Prospects and Observations on a Tour in England and Scotland; Natural, Economical and Literary, by Thomas Newte, 1791, first edition, complete with hand coloured Plates

A particularly fine and complete example of Prospects and Observations on a Tour in England and Scotland, first published in 1791, and one of the more engaging late eighteenth century British travel accounts. Written in epistolary form, the work reflects the Enlightenment era interest in domestic travel, landscape, manners and regional character, with Scotland forming a central and sustained focus.

Prospects and Observations on a Tour in England and Scotland; Natural, Economical and Literary, by Thomas Newte, Esq.

The present work represents the first edition under this expanded title, a shorter version of the tour having appeared a little earlier as A Tour in England and Scotland. The 1791 edition is substantially enlarged and revised, and is regarded as the definitive form of the work.

The book was published under the name Thomas Newte, now widely accepted as a pseudonym. The true identity of the author has long been debated. It has been suggested by some commentators that Newte may have been the Scottish writer William Thomson, born in Perthshire and educated at St Andrews and Edinburgh, who is known to have published under pseudonyms. Whilst we're not aware of this attribution having ever been conclusively proven, the author writes under the persona of an English traveller, sometimes described as being from Devonshire, while displaying an intimate and detailed knowledge of Scotland. This tension between assumed English identity and apparent Scottish familiarity has continued to attract scholarly interest.

Printed for G.G.J. and J. Robinson, Paternoster-Row, London, 1791.

This copy is the first edition of 1791, complete in a single volume, and is exceptional for the survival and quality of its illustrations. All engraved plates are present and uniformly hand coloured, including the folding map, a feature rarely encountered complete. In many copies the plates are uncoloured, partially coloured, or lacking altogether, making this a notably superior example.

The volume is handsomely bound in modern three quarters leather, with marbled paper over boards and gilt lettering to the spine. The binding is sound and sympathetic, enhancing the presentation without intruding upon the character of the book. Some tan lines to the leather near the top of the book and spine colour is a little sunned. Unobtrusive 2cm rubbed area to marbled paper near lower edge of front cover.

Condition is generally fine/near fine. The text is clean and fresh, the plates are bright and well coloured, and the folding map is intact. There are no significant defects, losses or intrusive markings. The book presents very well and would suit both a serious private collection and an institutional library.

Minor flaws include some light creasing and offsetting to the title page, as well as a 3cm blue ink stroke line to same. Some small professional tape repairs to rear of map. All Plates have been remounted into gutter during restoration. Some light offsetting opposite plates as would be expected. A couple of Plates have some foxed spotting opposite.

The book is accompanied by a loose letter dated 1994 from Scottish Local History, the journal of the Scottish Local History Forum, addressed to Professor S. G. E. Lythe of Pollokshields, Glasgow. The letter seeks his views on the identity of the pseudonymous author Thomas Newte in connection with a proposed article for the October 1994 issue of the journal. While unpublished, this correspondence provides evidence of continued late twentieth century scholarly interest in the authorship of the work and is retained with the volume.

A scarce opportunity to acquire a first edition, fully illustrated and fully hand coloured example of an important late eighteenth century tour of England and Scotland, offered in excellent condition and with added research interest.

This copy represents the only fully hand-coloured example of this work we have come across.