(Ackermann, Rudolph) [Combe, William]

History of the Merchant Taylors' School

Illustrated with two hand-colored aquatint engravings: by Stadler after Pugin, and Havell after McKenzie. Folio, London: Ackermann, 1816. First Edition, First Issue (paper watermarked 1816). Original drab brown wrappers, uncut, printed label on upper cover, spine perished, some chips to fore-edge, else a very good, tall copy in its original state.

This folio forms part of one of Ackermann’s larger, though not so successful projects, his History of the Colleges. Ford in his book on Ackermann notes that William Combe wrote the text for this, as well as five other schools, in 1811, though the book itself did not appear until 1816, with plates. Ackermann believed that “Old Boys” would buy up the volumes with great sentimental gusto; the fact is, the initial subscription was less than 400. He then bound up the remaining sheets separately and sold them as individual folios, this being on of them. Tooley notes that most of these have later issue plates Abbey Scenery 438; Tooley 3.

Item #23721       Price: $750.00