Books

First Turner edition, illustrated with original work commissioned by Cadell and Scott. Although the edition was posthumously published, Scott was involved in the creation of the plates. Turner previously collaborated with the publisher in 1818 for Scott's Provincial Antiquities and Picturesque Scenery of Scotland, and he initially intended to base the 24 new illustrations on his old sketches for this earlier publication as well as on the work of other artists. Worried that this plan would not produce particularly exciting results, Cadell and Scott convinced Turner to take another tour around Scotland in order to gain fresh material. After a thorough and tiring two-month trip, Turner returned with enough sketches to not only illustrate this collected edition of Scott's verse but also an edition of his prose and Lockhart's Life of Scott, both subsequently published by Cadell. Author and publisher discussed the choice of frontispiece and vignettes at length, with consultation from the artist himself. Rather than depict the narrative of the poetry or historical scenes, it was decided that the illustrations should reflect the contemporary landscape and architecture that Turner observed on his travels. Additionally, Scott himself, and allusions to his life, appear in several of the plates. Twelve vols, small octavo (165 x 103 mm). Contemporary half calf, spines with raised bands, elaborately gilt in compartments, black and dark blue morocco labels, marbled boards and endpapers, top edges gilt, fore and bottom edges uncut. Engraved frontispieces and vignette title pages with tissue guards to each vol., all by J. M. W. Turner. Bindings bright, occasional marks and rubbing to calf, occasional foxing to contents affecting a couple of plates, small puncture from sometime removed paper clip to 6 early leaves of vol. 7. A near-fine set.