John Papworth was an architect who adopted the second name of Buonarroti. After putting forward a design for a trophy to the Battle of Waterloo his friends called him a second Michelangelo hence his choice. Papworth supplied a series of architectural notes to R. Ackermann’s popular ‘Repository’ which was illustrated with fine coloured aquatints. Indeed he was responsible for the design of his showroom 101 The Strand. In 1816 Ackermann decided to publish as one volume those exterior images best describing the London of the day. There was one new plate in the work on ‘The Guildhall’.

The work is divided into two distinct sections, the first being more personal in nature dealing with places of worship, theatres, and homes. The second part covers the commercial side of the city. The fine London Squares are depicted here comprehensively for the first time in over a hundred years. “Copies carrying Papworth’s name (on the title-page) are somewhat scarcer than those without” (Abbey). This is an example of the rarer second issue. Provenance: with bookplate of W. A. Foyle, Beeleigh Abbey, to front pastedown. Abbey Scenery 217; Adams 117; Martin-Hardie pp.112, 312; Prideaux pp.143, 347; Tooley p.188 no. 361.