Modern London: Being the History and Present State of the British Metropolis Richard Phillips Art & Architecture

Richard Phillips' very scarce illustrated account of the history of London, including the supplementary collection of brilliant sought after coloured plates depicting the 'traders of London', bound in contemporary calf. The first edition.Illustrated with twenty three monochrome copper plates, including one folding and one double page, and all thirty-one hand coloured plates depicting 'Itinerant Traders of London'. Collated, complete. Rare to find with all plates present.Richard Phillips' fantastic illustrated account of the history of London, providing insight into London during the beginning of the nineteenth century. The work covers London's police, hospitals, legal establishments, palaces and buildings of state and government, the prisons, the trade of London, the architecture, and much more. The work is most notable for its inclusion of the series of coloured plates to the rear, which were included as a supplement to the work, and depict the 'itinerant traders of London in their ordinary costume'. These coloured illustrations have become sought after due to their interesting subject matter, depicting the the poorer street traders in notable locations around London, with this being the first issue of the plates.Bound in contemporary diced calf boards, re-backed in modern calf. Lacking title page, with several pages laid down. In contemporary calf boards, re-backed in modern calf. Externally, slight cracking and marks to the boards, with wear to the extremities. Bookbinder's label to the front pastedown. Internally, lacking title page, otherwise firmly bound, first few pages and several plates laid down, with spotting, the odd small closed tear to the extremities, and offsetting from the plates. Significant closed tears repaired with tape to the verso of the odd plate. Good