John Boydell (1719-1804) was born in Dorrington, Shropshire in 1719 and began his career as a land surveyor just like his father Joseph before him. He then began a career as an engraver before moving into the business of printing and publishing. He famously purchased the plates of William Hogarth from his widow. In the Advertisement to this volume he states “The Prints that form the following Volume were never before collected all together. The Engraver has now collected them, more to show the Improvement of the Art in this Country, since the period of their Publication, than from any Idea of their own Merits. He is very sensible that he began to learn the art of Engraving too late in life, to arrive at great perfection, being within a few months of Twenty-one years of Age, when he put himself Apprentice to the Art, and that too, to a Master who had himself never arisen to any great Degree of Perfection. Indeed, at that period (about Fifty years ago) there were no Engravers of any Eminence I the Country … he flatters himself, has somewhat contributed to bring the Art of Engraving to that wonderful State of Perfection in England, which at present gives its Artists so decided a Superiority over all the rests of Europe.”

Large oblong views of London were particularly popular in London during the middle and latter portion of the eighteenth century. More than anyone it was Boydell who was responsible for making the print trade in London more export orientated than import. The 39 London plates in this work were the only ones in the entire series that were actually engraved by Boydell. They include fine views of Sunbury, Sheperton, Putney, Battersea, Hammersmith, Deptford, Blackwall, Woolwich, the Tower, Greenwich Hospital, Mortlake, Westminster Bridge, Wandsworth, Twickenham, Westminster, and the Parade in St. James’s Park. A superb series of views. Adams 47, Cohen (1985) (1985). ‘The Thames 1580-1980 A General Bibliography’ p. 86-7; ESTC T83680; Upcott II pp. 909-10; Worms and Baynton-Williams.