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This is the second state of the first edition of William Combe’s Journal of Sentimental Travels in the Southern Provinces of France, Shortly Before the Revolution (291 numbered pages, plus directions to the printer), published by Rudolph Ackermann in 1821, with 17 plates of Thomas Rowlandson art specified on the title page, but with 18 plates in the book, as noted in the printer’s directions.
The cover (app. 9.5″ x 6″), dark blue leather with gilt borders and decorations, is good overall, but with the title label missing, and some fade to the gilt on the spine, which is straight, and securely attached to the inside. There are a number of surface scuffs, but no significant stains or tears. The marbled inside cover spreads are unfaded and clean.
There is a bookplate “sur esperance” to the front inside cover. This is the only attachment. The only writing is a small R in a larger C (possibly a binder’s mark), to the upper outside corner of the first blank page.
All 18 color plates are in excellent condition, with no notable fade, though there is color offset to the adjacent text pages. I’ve found a few spot stains and smudges, but the page faces are exceptionally clean, with all text as new, and with the marbled edges clean and unfaded. There are a number of corner creases, but these aren’t sharply delineated. There are no page tears. The binding is tight, with no loose or missing pages.
The accompanying photos are accurate reflections of the book conditions.
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