Naples and the Campagna Felice in a Series of Letters Addressed to a Friend in England, in 1802

London: R. Ackermann, 1815. First edition. Leather. Very Good. 9.5" by 6". Thomas Rowlandson. A great copy of the first edition of this lavishly hand-colour aquatint illustrated collection of letters written on a 1802 trip to Italy, illustrated beautifully by Thomas Rowlandson. The first edition of this work in book form. Illustrated with a hand-colour aquatint frontispiece, hand-colour aquatint title page, one hand-colour aquatint folding map, one hand-colour aquatint map, and fourteen hand-colour aquatint plates. Collated, complete. Collated from the list of plates to the rear of the work. Rebacked with the original boards restored. This work was originally published as letters in 'Repository of Arts' between the years 1809 and 1813, under the title 'Letters from Italy'. This first edition is preferred, as the serialised version of this work did not contain plates. The work is a collection of twenty letters written whilst the author was on a trip to Italy, in 1802. The letters contain rich descriptions of the scenery and society of Italy at the turn of the nineteenth century. Written by Lewis Engelbach, though little is known about him. Illustrated by Thomas Rowlandson, though he probably only illustrated nine of the plates, plates numbered 1, 3, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 16, and only the frontispiece bears his signature. Rowlandson was a noted Georgian caricaturist and artist, who was known for his political and social satire in his work. Stamp to the tail of the title page, '3507013'. In a full calf binding, rebacked with the original boards restored. A little rubbing to the boards. Minor bumping to the extremities. A few light marks to the boards. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are age-toned with spots and some marks. Stamp to the tail of the title page, '3507013'. Small repair to the text of page 123/4, affecting roughly three words. Small repair to the preface, to the gutter, not affecting text. Small chip to the margin of page 59/60, not affecting text. Small closed tear to the head of page 165/6, not affecting text. Small scorch mark to the head of the margin of page 187 to the plate facing page 196. Small closed tear to the margin of plate facing page 196, not affecting text. Tidemark to the gutter of the last few pages. Very Good