A Series of Picturesque Views of Seats of The Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, with Descriptive and Historical Letterpress (Volumes I-IV, Divisions 1-12)

London, UK: William Mackenzie, 1880. Hardcover. Very Good. 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall. 12 Divisions (of 18) only: Volume I, Division 1; Volume I, Division 2; Volume I, Division 3; Volume II, Division 4; Volume II, Division 5; Volume II, Division 6; Volume III, Division 7; Volume III, Division 8; Volume III, Division 9; Volume IV, Division 10; Volume IV, Division 11; Volume IV, Division 12. [Between 1875 and 1894]. This edition of Picturesque Seats was published by William MacKenzie between 1880 and 1894, in six volumes, each volume comprising three divisions. Each division has around 26-30 pages plus 12 or 13 tissue-guarded colour plates of grand country houses. The first division in each volume has an extra illustrated title page, with coloured vignette and gilt embellished lettering printed in red and black, as well as a title page also printed in red and black. Uniformly bound in red buckram, decorated with blind rules and gilt illustration on front panel, gilt lettering on spine. All edges gilt. Volume numbers on title pages division numbering on spines. Tall 4tos. A very large and very heavy set which will incur an additional charge for overseas delivery. The final leaf in Volume II, Division 4 is mis-numbered. All boards quite heavily rubbed at edges with cloth chipped, including on inner margins, some minor indentations, rubbed around spine joints, lightly bruised at spine ends, spines faded. Internally some light scattered spotting and toning with the occasional page more heavily affected, else generally internally neat, clean and tight. Division 12 has some ink stains on the front panel. Magnificent views of glorious country seats and mansions, some now lost, with brief accompanying historical descriptions of settings, architecture, interior artworks and ownership. F O Morris, illustrator Alexander Lydon (A R Lydon) joined with the Driffield printer Benjamin Fawcett revamping a classic series started thirty years earlier. [With thanks to 'Benjamin Fawcett of Driffield, The Finest of Victorian Colour Printers' for reference details of edition, publication and collation.]