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VIDAL, Emeric Essex.
Picturesque Illustrations of Buenos Ayres and Monte Video, consisting of twenty-four views: accompanied with descriptions of the scenery, and of the costumes, manners, &c. of the inhabitants of those cities and their environs
Emeric Essex Vidal (ca. 1788-1861), born into a naval family, joined the Navy in 1808 and spent much of his career as a purser. He was stationed in 1820-1821 at St. Helena as secretary to Admiral Lambert on H.M.S. Vigo. Vidal was a distinguished painter and many of his fine drawings (like those of his brother Alexander) were adapted for the engraved vignettes on early issues of certain British Admiralty charts. “In 1820 began a series of books dealing with travel and scenery. The first was Picturesque Illustrations of Buenos Ayres and Monte Video, with descriptions of scenery, customs, and manners by E.E. Vidal. The book was issued in six monthly parts, seven hundred and fifty copies on elephant paper, and fifty on atlas…The twenty-four aquatints, all after drawings by Vidal, four of them being large folded plates, are engraved by G. Maile, J. Bluck, T. Sutherland, and D. Havell…[and] possess a subtle charm of their own apart from their historical and geographical value” (Martin Hardie). “Not an uncommon book, but owing to the importance of its subject and the fact of its being the only notable colour plate book in English dealing with the Argentine, it always commands a high price” (Tooley).
- Published
- London: printed by L. Harrison, published by R. Ackermann, 1820 [plates and text watermarked 1818]
- References
- Abbey Travel II 698; Colas II, 3000; Tooley 495; Sabin 99460; Prideaux pp 355, 375; Bobins I 31.
- Plates
- 24
- Binding/Size
- M=4to
- Value
- 0-5000
- Published
- London: printed by L. Harrison, published by R. Ackermann, 1820 [plates and text watermarked 1818]
- Ref
- 1310
Large quarto (14 1/4 x 11 inches). 24 hand-coloured aquatints (4 folding) after Vidal by T. Sutherland, G. Maile, and J. Bluck. Original red roan-backed drab paper-covered boards, paper label to spine, modern blue morocco box, titled in gilt on upper cover and spine. Provenance: Quentin Keynes (sale Christie's London, 7 April 2004, lot 125). Initially issued in monthly parts, the volume form was then published in two formats with 750 Elephant 4to copies and 50 large paper copies. 'The only notable colour plate book in English dealing with the Argentine' (Tooley). English interest in South America flourished after the capture of Buenos Aires by Commodore Beresford in 1806. Ackermann exploited the widespread and substantial interest in South American affairs that this event aroused, through some publications, including these views. Vidal was paymaster of the British Navy and was one of the most critical travelling artists working in pre and post-independence South America. Coloured plates in order: 1. Frontispiece. General View of Buenos Ayres from the Plaza de Toro.* 2. Landing Place. 3. Fort. 4. Water Cart. 5. Market Place of Buenos Ayres. 6. The Plaza. 7. Milk Boys. 8. South Matadero, (Public Butchery). 9. Fishing. 10. Church of San Domingo. 11. Beggars on Horseback. 12. Pampa Indians. 13. Shipping Hides at the Custom House. 14. Monte Video. From the Anchorage outside the Harbour / Buenos Ayres. From the Bank between the Outer and Inner Roads.* 15. A Country Public House & Travellers. 16. Estantia (Farm) on the River San Pedro. 17. Balling Ostriches. 18. Gauchos (Rustics) of Tucuman. 19. Convoy of Wine Mules. 20. Travelling Waggon in a Pontano (Morass). 21. Travelling Post.* 22. Paolistas, Soldiers of the East Bank of the Plata. 23. A Quinta (Farm). 24. A Horse Race.* * denotes a folding plate.