The Antiquities of England and Wales. With the Supplement

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Near Fine First Edition Set of Grose's Antiquities, Illustrated with over 600 Engraved Plates and Maps 1773-1787 First edition of Grose's classic work on the antiquities of England and Wales, including his supplementary volumes, beautifully bound in contemporary full diced calf, decorative gilt edge tooling & titles, blue marbled endpapers, and illustrated with over 600 engraved plates and hand coloured maps, together six volumes, royal quarto, not paginated. Grose, who has been called a sort of antiquarian Falstaff, turned to writing only after squandering his inheritance. Tapping his early interest in heraldry and antiquities and his skills as a draughtsman, he began to publish Antiquities of England and Wales in 1773, an extensive work which was immediately popular. Profusely illustrated and written in a lively, informative style, the work presents an exhaustive tour of the man made and natural landmarks of England and Wales, providing a wealth of interesting and often obscure historical information. Splendidly illustrated with engraved title pages, folding maps (hand coloured in outline), 637 engraved plates and 54 in text, hand coloured maps. Only occasional light foxing or edge browning, expert repair to folds of large folding map. Some expert restoration of joints, Vol VI rebacked with original spine laid down. Vol 1, 1773; V2, 1774; V3, 1775; V4, 1776; V5-Supplement 1777; V6,-Supplement 1787. Numerous artists. (323*234mm). A splendid set in lovely contemporary bindings.