First edition. Imperial 4to. 350 x 282mm. Full tan polished calf, gilt rules to the boards, gilt floral decoration to the spine in the sections between raised bands, leather title label lettered in gilt. Marbled endpapers, all edges red. From the library of Princess Elizabeth, daughter of George III, with her signature on the title-page. Thirty two etchings, by Smith from his own drawings, of buildings and interiors around London, plus a title page with hand coloured heraldic devices of London guilds. A very good copy with some wear to the spine ends and joints and to the gilt decoration to the spine. Internally fresh with just occasional offsetting. An excellent, large copy with a distinguished provenance.

Princess Elizabeth (1770-1840) was the third daugher of King George III. It was alleged that she completed a clandestine marriage and bore a child as a teenager, before formally marrying Prince Frederick of Hesse-Homburg in 1818 and moving permanently to Germany two years later.
Originally entitled "Ancient Topography of London, embracing Specimens of Sacred, Public, and Domestic Architecture, from the earliest period to the time of the Great Fire in 1666. Intended as an Accompaniment to the celebrated works of Stow, Pennant, and others." The work was begun in October 1810 and completed in 1815, when the title was changed to its current wording. Shortly thereafter John Smith, noted for his engravings and works on London Antiquity, (and known as 'Antiquity Smith') was appointed keeper of the prints at the British Museum. A contemporary reviewer wrote "The Volume before us has given us very considerable pleasure: the Views are extremely faithful; and the Descriptions novel and entertaining."
It is now valued for its notably accurate architectural drawings of buildings, many of which no longer exist.

PROVENANCE: Princess Elizabeth (Daughter of George III, ownership signature to title); L.C.Berger (Collector and antiquary, bookplate to front pastedown, dated by hand 1863).

Stock ID: 36935