4to. (338 x 275 mm). Recently rebound in half dark green crushed morocco over marbled boards, gilt lettered spine, the original endpapers retained; xxvi, 127, [1]pp., 13 numbered, engraved plates of which 3 (pls. 6,7,8) are hand-coloured aquatints, including the frontispiece and the additional title-page, each paper-guarded, one large, folding lithographed map of the estate counting as Pl.1, one engraved plate illustrating the ‘Abbey’ from the south-west, not called for in the list of plates, 14 wood-cut vignettes (numbered in the list of illustrations xiv-xxviii) including a title-page vignette, 3 genealogical tables, including one double-page, an extensive subscribers’ list; a bright, wide-margined copy.

First edition. Published to coincide with the opening of Fonthill to the public prior to the impending auction of its contents by Christie’s in the October of 1822. The sale was never held, as the entire estate was sold to John Farquhar, although he sold many of the contents of the house by auction the following year. In compiling the text Rutter was assisted by Beckford himself, by Chevalier Franchi, the Abbé Macquin and G.F. Beltz of the Herald’s College.

BAL Early Printed Books 2881.

Stock number: 1321