Cooke, E. W. [Edward William].

"Fifty Plates of Shipping and Craft Drawn and Etched by E.W. Cooke" [bound with] 12 additional proof plates of Brighton [with] 55 loose plates from the standard 1831 edition.

London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, 1829-1831. An intriguing pairing - the bound volume being one of "a few copies taken off on imperial quarto paper," calling for 50 plates, here in proof, with the addition of 12 proofs of the Brighton series, on India paper [with] 55 plates (of 65) from the standard 1831 edition.

E. W. Cooke was an accomplished artist and engraver with a long career specializing in landscapes. He began publishing this work when he was just 17 years old under the "superintendence" of his father, George Cooke, perhaps the most distinguished engraver of his era. The plates were issued in twelve monthly numbers of four plates each, with a title and illustration list, also engraved. The project was an immediate success. Soon after finishing the first 50 plates, Cooke embarked on a new project, a series of Coast Sketches made near Brighton, to be published in three parts of four plates each beginning on August 1, 1830 (see Literary Gazette and Journal of Belles Lettres, no. 705, July 24, 1830, p. 504). It is not clear when the project was expanded to 65 plates, but probably after 1831 and perhaps later (The Art-Union, April 1840, p. 64, carried an advertisement for an edition with 62 plates).

The bound volume entitled "Fifty Plates of Shipping and Craft..." includes the 50 intaglio plates of ships, interesting for their portrayal of convict hulks that were used to house convicts pending their transportation to Australia. This copy also bound in are the 12 plates of Brighton sea scenes, which are not called for. The pages measure 101/2 x 14-1/4", one of "a few copies taken off on imperial quarto paper" (see Edinburgh Review, September 1828, page 25). This larger format is very scarce; this copy being somewhat unique as it also includes the Brighton suite.

[With] 55 (of 65) loose plates of the standard edition from "Sixty Five Plates of Shipping and Craft, Drawn and Etched by E. W. Cooke". The "List of Plates" now includes "Additional Plates" on the verso, listing the 12 Brighton plates and three "Coast Sketches" (Kemp Stairs, Folkestone Harbour and Dover Cliffs). These pages measure 12 1/4 x 9 5/8".
The book is listed as OCLC:831195958.
There are differences between the proof edition and the standard edition plates. For example, some of the Brighton plates have the addition of "London Pubd. Aug 1 1830'. In plate 3, the proof reads "At Rottingdean" while the later is captioned "Lobster-boat at Rottingdean", as well as adding a distant horizon with boats. Plate 5 is titled "At Brighton" in the proof and "At Brighton - Prawn-boat" in the later edition. The regular edition of plate 7 adds "Boat-hut" to "On Brighton Beach", while plate 8 adds "Billy-boy uploading".

Sml. folio (14 3/4 x 11 1/2"), decorative title, decorative list of plates listing 50 proof plates printed on India paper and laid down; 12 additional plates of the Brighton area numbered 1-12 within the plate. All plates are interleaved with protective pages. Pages measure 14 1/4 x 11". All edges gilt. Bound in a dark brown half calf binding, gilt title, raised bands by Shapcott, Rathbone Place. Heraldic bookplate of Francis Gray Smart on the front moire endpaper. Binding a little scuffed and sunned on the front board. Most plates are pristine; some are a little foxed. OCLC:12009885.

An extremely scarce proof edition with a fairly complete grouping of the later plates, useful for comparing changes in the later printing. Very good condition. Item #22511

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