[THE SCENERY OF] THE BROADS AND RIVERS OF NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK: [cover title].

[London: Jarrold & Sons, 1883. Oblong folio, frontis portrait, 48 hand-printed photogravure plates with text leaf opposite, no title page, t.e.g. Scattered foxing to the blank margins of several of the plates, and some have short tears or abrasions in the blank margins with one plate partially loose; many of the text leaves are foxed and stained. Half morocco and cloth; the gilt title on the front cover and the upper tips are rubbed and the marbled rear endpapers have two moderate scars where they stuck together; the rear cover shows dampstaining with the cloth lifting at one corner. In all, a good copy. Davies, a prolific writer of guide books to East Anglia, illustrated this work from his own photographs, which were printed in the photogravure process by T. & R. Annan. This work predates the published books of P.H. Emerson and bears some striking similarities to Emerson, giving rise to the notion that Davies was an influence on the naturalistic style of Emerson.

Initially, in 1883, Jarrold and Sons, published by subscription, THE SCENERY OF THE BROADS AND RIVERS OF NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK, a portfolio of 24 photogravure plates with text by Davies; the photogravure plates printed by T. & R. Annan, in an edition of 25 sets on India paper, and 250 sets on etching paper. Soon after, a second series was issued with the same title and edition size. Our album contains all 48 photogravure plates with text leaves, and has the original prospectus for the First Series, titled, PHOTO - ETCHINGS OF THE SCENERY OF THE RIVERS, BROADS, & DECOYS, OF EAST ANGLIA, and the prospectus for the Second Series, titled, PHOTO-ETCHINGS OF NORFOLK BROAD AND RIVER SCENERY pasted in on the final 2 album leaves. The portrait frontispiece of Davies was likely added by the original owner.

OCLC locates copies of the First Series at: Getty Research, and University of East Anglia; and copies of the Second Series at: University of Texas - Austin, and Clark Art Institute. Only UCLA has both series as separate portfolios, while the Canadian Centre for Architecture has both series bound as one, with the title, THE RIVERS AND BROADS OF NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK, dated 1889; the Norfolk County Council Library has a bound volume titled, RIVERS & BROADS OF NORFOLK & SUFFOLK, dated 1888, with no publisher or place of publication stated.

What can be assumed is that sales of the 2 separate portfolios were weak, given the scarcity of extant copies and that Jarrold & Sons issued the complete 48 plates bound together in 1889, as stated on p. 40 in the biography of Davies: Campbell, Jamie & Cliff Middleton. THE MAN WHO FOUND THE BROADS: A Biography of George Christopher Davies, 1999. Since the Canadian Centre for Architecture and the Norfolk County Council Library copies differ in date and publication information and binding style, but neither contain the original prospectus for the First or Second series, it is not possible to discern whether our copy is comprised of the 2 separate portfolios bound by the original owner, or if it is the bound album as issued by Jarrold in 1889.