Canadian Scenery Illustrated

From Drawings by W. H. Bartlett

Literary department by N. P. Willis

George Virtue, London, 1842

First edition

Volume I only

Original gilt pictorial cloth hardcover

128 pages, if complete

No ISBN

An original 1842 first-edition volume from one of the major illustrated works on nineteenth-century Canada. W. H. Bartlett traveled through North America and supplied the drawings, which were turned into finely detailed steel engravings. N. P. Willis supplied the historical and travel text.

Volume I includes early views of Toronto, Quebec, Montreal, Niagara, Kingston, the St. Lawrence River, Indigenous villages and camps, monuments, bridges, forts, and Canadian wilderness scenes.

This copy retains the engraved “Wigwam in the Forest” title, the portrait frontispiece of W. H. Bartlett, and numerous full-page steel engravings. The words “Yours truly, W. H. Bartlett” beneath the portrait are a printed facsimile signature. This copy is not signed.

Best fit for collectors of early Canadiana, Canadian history, nineteenth-century travel, historic prints, steel engravings, and W. H. Bartlett.

Major hook: Original 1842 first-edition Volume I with period steel engravings and the publisher’s gilt pictorial cloth binding.

Condition: Poor restoration copy. Volume I only; Volume II is not included. The binding is badly damaged and very fragile. The front cover is close to separating from the text block. The inner hinge is split with exposed binding material and a large open gap. Spine cloth is split, frayed, worn through, and partly separated, with exposed board and binding material. Boards have heavy rubbing, staining, fading, soiling, edge wear, corner wear, and cloth loss. Old labels are attached to the spine. Pages and plates show age toning, foxing, spotting, staining, and some water marks. The engraved title has visible staining near the gutter and lower area. The binding may suffer more damage if opened flat or handled roughly. Plate and page completeness must be checked before purchase. See photos for full condition details.

Search terms: Canadian Scenery Illustrated, N P Willis, W H Bartlett, William Henry Bartlett, George Virtue, 1842 first edition, Volume I, antique Canada book, Canadian history, Canadiana, Toronto, Quebec, Montreal, Niagara, St Lawrence River, steel engravings, landscape prints, gilt pictorial cloth.