Peter Bichsel   Fine Books

Nugent, (Thomas). The Grand Tour; Or, A Journey through the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and France. 4 vols.

Title, XI, (5), 372, (4) pp.; Titel, II, 452 pp.; Title, (2), 441, (3) pp.; Title, (2), 419, (4) pp. 8vo. Full calf with gilt spine title and ornaments. – London, Rivington and Sons, Law, Caslon, Robinson, Cadell, Goldsmith, Bew, Hayes, Fox, and Evans, 1778.

Third edition. Extensive travel guide on the Grand Tour, written by the Irish historian Thomas Nugent (1700–1772). Each of the four volumes is dedicated to one of the countries listed in the title. The first version of this travelogue was published in 1749 titled „The Grand Tour – containing an exact description of most of the cities, towns and remarkable places of Europe“, which was the first detailed description of the Grand Tour, a journey that was particularly popular among the English upper class. In 1756, Nugent published an updated version of his travel guide, now under the title „The Grand Tour, or, A journey through the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and France.“ Althought Nugents „The Grand Tour“ became one of the most read guides for this yourney, it is unclear if he had ever undertaken the tour himself. With the armorial bookplate of „Captain Tottenham“ from Woodstock on all four paste-downs. – Spines slightly rubbed, front boards of vols. II-IV faded in parts. Upper part of outter hinge of vol. IV cracked. Some staining to upper right corner of the last pages of vol. III. Without the half title in vol. I. – Best.-Nr. 27537