A Descriptive Account of the Mansion and Gardens of White-Knights, A Seat of His Grace The Duke of Marlborough

[1819]. [10], 151pp, with twenty three plates on India paper after drawings by T C Hofland. Bound in full black calf's leather with gilt decorations, six raised bands on elegantly decorated spine. Inner gilt dentelles. All edges gilt. Elephant Folio (approximately 17 by 13.5 inches). Boards a little chipped at edges, rubbed and rounded on corners, minor cracks at ends of lightly chipped and sunned spine. Minor cracks to hinges. Endpapers a little browned at edges, some faint and occasional spotting on endpapers and prelims only else internally neat, clean, bright and tight. Mrs Barbara Hofland [Hoffland] was a popular if unfortunate novelist and writer. Commissioned to write this magnificent account of the White-Knights estate, near Reading, by its owner, the Duke of Marlborough, in 1816 it is supported by the elegant engravings after drawings by her artist husband Thomas Christopher Hofland. It took over three years to compile but was a financial disaster for the couple. The Duke of Marlborough never paid for its printing or for the huge expense incurred in engraving the images.