(British Topography, History, 2 Volumes, 126 plates / maps): Ancient Wiltshire (The Ancient History of South Wiltshire AND The Ancient History of North Wiltshire) by Hoare, Sir Richard Colt - 1812

London: Richard Miller (for 1812 issue); Lackington, Hughes, Mavor and Jones for 1819, 1812. Historically significant pair of volumes pertaining to British topography and archaelogy (including Stonehenge). The 1812 date is for the South Wiltshire volume, which was published before the North Wiltshire (in 1819). This is quite a nice set with a full 126 plates and maps (many route maps and topographical plates; full index and list/order of plates at rear of each volume). There are 74 plates in the earlier volume, and 52 in the other. The 1819 N. Wiltshire volume is half-leather, and sympathetically rebacked in style so that the pair is matched in terms of 6-compartment gilt-lettered spines. The front board, though present, has completely separated. The 1812 S. Wiltshire is full leather, AEG. These binding (cover) differences are often present, given the differential dates of publication. The frontispieces are present in both volumes (Mr. William Cunnington in the S. Wiltshire volume; Sir Richard Hoare in the N. Wiltshire). The 1812 vol: 2 title pages, dedication to Cunnington, 254 pages, general index, list of plates. The 1819: 2 title pages, dedication to Sir Joseph Banks, 126pp, general index, list of plates. Most of the original tissue guards are present. Armorial bookplate of Glen Conner in both volumes; the N. Wiltshire has a dedication plate to St. Mary Magdelene College of Oxford on the front pastedown. Both bindings are quite tight. Sir Richard Colt Hoare was descended from Sir Richard Hoare, Lord Mayor of London , who had married the younger daughter of Henry Hoare, founder of the family banking business (Richard Colt Hoare's grandfather). (See CD-Rom version of DNB.) This family financial strength enabled the author to pursue his ambitions as an antiquary. These volumes on Wiltshire are general considered his most important work. The quality of the b&w engravings (some of the iters, or strip maps, with color coded routes; the name seems derived from Roman road maps) is quite high. This is a remarkably well-preserved set (19 inch elephant folios). Several copies are shown via the online KVK catalogue.. Very Good. Elephant Folio - over 15" - 23" tall.