Edward Wright - Some observations made in travelling through France, Italy, &c. in the years 1720, 1721, and 1722, - 1730

First edition, luxuriously printed in London in 1730 and highly valued by bibliophiles, of Edward Wright's Travels through France and Italy. Complete work in 2 volumes from the personal library of Baron Edwin Sandys, a member of the Royal Navy Admiralty. Illustrated with a total of 42 extraordinary copper engravings by Gerard Van der Gucht, 38 of which are fold-outs. Additionally accompanied by numerous smaller engravings of various sizes interspersed with the text. Complete copies with engravings.

Wright describes his travels through Paris, Lyon, Padua, Venice, Florence, Naples, Pisa, and, of course, Rome, which is divided into several chapters. The fine plates were produced from the author's designs and depict various views, structures, monuments, artworks, and artifacts that Wright saw during his journeys. Beautiful, uniform bindings in full leather of the period, with nerves and gilding on the spines and gilded wheels on the covers. Strong and solid. Each copy measures 26 x 21 cm, with a total weight of 2540 grams. Typographic marks on the covers, decorated initials, and engraved vignettes.

Copies from the library of Edwin Sandys (1726 – 1797), the second Baron Sandys and, in 1757, a member of the Admiralty, the government department responsible for the Royal Navy. With a handwritten inscription by Edwin Sandys dated December 29, 1730, and the private ex libris of his library on the back of the title page of the first volume.

First edition, highly sought after and rare to see, even more so complete with both volumes together, with homogeneous bindings, an illustrious provenance, and all engravings preserved! Only one complete copy in two volumes (although missing one engraving) in Spanish libraries according to the CCPB (Collective Catalog of Bibliographic Heritage), preserved as expected in the Biblioteca Nacional de España (Goya Room. Cartography; GMm/2260-GMm/2261).

Edward Wright, Some observations made in travelling through France, Italy, etc., in the years 1720, 1721, and 1722, by Edward Wright. In two volumes. London: Printed for Tho. Ward and E. Wicksteed, in the Inner-Temple Lane, 1730. 24 engravings (22 fold-outs + 2 full-page). Complete.

Edward Wright, Some observations made while traveling through France, Italy, etc., in the years 1720, 1721, and 1722, by Edward Wright. In two volumes. VOL. II. Tome London: Printed for Tho. Ward and E. Wicksteed, in the Inner-Temple Lane, 1730. 18 engravings (16 fold-outs + 2 full-page). Complete.

Reading Wrights' travel account of Italy is interesting in at least two aspects. While following the established tradition of travel literature, his book shows new developments in the genre. Wrights' itinerary began with crossing the English Channel. He traveled through France visiting Paris and Marseille and arrived in Italy by boat, with Genoa as the first city he visited in Italy. He then crossed Italy toward the Adriatic side, reaching Venice and traveling along the coast before returning to the Tyrrhenian side and ascending the left side of the Italian boot. His entry into Pisa focuses on the monuments of the Piazza del Duomo: the Dome, the Cemetery, the Baptistery, and the Campanile.




Ref. library: C953901710875

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