Several plates are signed by J. Nash in the plate, usually with a date. In Volume III four plates carry the signature of C. Hullmandel.
Each volume is dedicated by Joseph Nash, volume I to Lord Francis Egerton, II to the Marquis of Northampton, III to Sir Robert Peel, IV to Prince Albert.
References
Royal Institute of British Architects, British Architectural Library ... Early printed books, 3 (1999), no.2237, p.1216-7; R.V. Tooley, English Books With Coloured Plates 1790 To 1860 A Bibliographical Account of the most Important Books illustrated by English Artists in Colour Aquatint and Colour Lithography (new ed., 1973), no. 337, p.274-5; Scenery of Great Britain and Ireland in aquatint and lithography, 1770-1860, from the library of J.R. Abbey: a bibliographical catalogue (1953), no. 402. M. Twyman, Lithography 1800-1850 (1970).
P. Mandler, The fall and rise of the stately home (1997).
Summary Note
These four volumes of lithographed plates were published in 1839 (some plates dated 1839), 1840 (some plates dated 1839 or 1840), 1841 (some plates dated 1840 or 1841) and 1849 (some plates dated 1849). (The RIBA catalogues a copy of Volume III that carries no publication-date on its title-plate.) They were joined in 1849 by a smaller fifth volume entitled Descriptions Of The Plates Of The Mansions Of England In The Olden Time. By Joseph Nash. In Four Series. Published By T.M'Lean, 26, Haymarket. London: Published by Thomas M'Lean, 26 Haymarket. 1849.
The slightly variant titles of volumes II-IV read: (II) A.D. 1840 The Mansions Of England In The Olden Time By Joseph Nash Second Series 1840. Published by T. M'Lean, 26, Haymarket. Printed by C Hullmandel.; (III) Third Series Mansions Of England In The Olden Time By Joseph Nash Published by T. M'Lean, 26, Haymarket.Printed by C Hullmandel. 1841; (IV) The Mansions Of England in the Olden Time, by Joseph Nash. Fourth Series. A.D. 1849 London: Published by Thomas Mc.Lean, 26, Haymarket.
The plates are captioned and show exterior and interior views of 16th-century and 17th-century houses in Britain, peopled with imaginary inhabitants dressed in the costume of the period. They were well received and imitated, and in 1841 were cited in Parliament as a contributory cause of the enthusiasm for visiting old country-houses. The plates are tinted lithographs. Some copies were issued with hand-coloured plates.
Provenance
Purchased in 1868 (see 'Report on the Library', RA Annual Report for 1868, Appendix No. 6, p. 31).
Copy Note
In Volume IV the two pages of lithographed text (dedication and 'List of Subjects') are bound in before the title-plate.
Binding Note
19th-century quarter black morocco, blue watered-cloth-covered boards, upper covers of volumes I-III lettered '(Second (Third)) Series Of) Nash's Mansions Of England In The Olden Time'; spines of volumes I-IV lettered 'Nash's Mansions Of The Olden Time (Second (-Fourth) Series.)'.
Subject
Architecture - Houses - Country houses - Great Britain - History - 16th century - 17th century - Renaissance - Elizabethan - Jacobean
Views - Great Britain - 19th century
Pictorial works - Lithographs - Great Britain - 19th century