[Luckombe, Philip / Smith, Charles].

Luxury Reprint of “The Compleat Irish Traveller” [With high quality Reproductions of the 31 original Plates of detailed Maps of County Cork in the 18th century, County Kerry in the 18th century and Waterford in the 18th century, as well as some of the earliest engravings of Irish Towns here for the first time reproduced as beautiful Artworks for framing and housed in a special, handmade Folder. The publication was just recently enlarged with a detailed, Topographical Index (July 2023)]. Complete Title: “The Compleat Irish Traveller, containing A general Description of the most Noted Cities, Towns, Seats, Buildings, Loughs &c. in the Kingdom of Ireland, Interspersed with Observations on the Manners, Customs, Antiquities, Curiosities and Natural History of that Country. With Elegant Copper Plates”. [With 31 original Plates after Charles Smith, including Frontispiece, this Reprint / Facsimile is the result of 10 years of research and purchase of three (3) original versions of the First Edition from the year 1788. The first Editions known to Inanna Rare Books all had different quantities of Plates and Maps included. This Reprint by Inanna Rare Books has been produced from an extremely clean version of the original and shows the most complete set of illustrations and XL-Size Maps and Artworks we could find in any of the original editions. The publication shows not only Maps of County Cork, County Kerry and County Waterford but also Views of Irish Cities and Towns in these Counties of the Province of Munster and besides the wonderful Historical Plan of Cork City this set also includes the very rare Plan of the “Grand Canal from Dublin to the River Shannon” (see detailed list of all the illustrations present at the end of this description)].

Luxury Limited-Edition-Reprint of the First Edition by Luckombe in 1788. Two Volumes plus extra Folder with 31 Plates reprinted as Artworks for framing. Skibbereen (County Cork), Inanna Rare Books Publishing, 1788. Octavo (13.5 cm x 21 cm). Pagination: Volume I: Frontispiece, engraved Titlepage, XXX, 189 pages plus recently published Index (July, 2023) / Volume II: Engraved Titlepage, 263 pages plus recently published Index (July, 2023). Plus large, bespoke made Folder with thirtyone (31) Reproductions of the Maps, Plans and Illustrations which usually were folded inside this publication and now for the first time have been liberated from the book and were published as the beautiful works of art they are. Textvolume: Volume I and II of the text bound in one beautiful half-leather-volume with gilt lettering on spine, bound in the style of the 18th century / Illustrations-Folder with 31 reprinted illustrations of Towns and Maps of Ireland but mainly of Munster, bound in bespoke made half-cloth with paper-covered boards and pasted Reprint of the original titlepage. Excellent, new condition. One of only 300 printed. [Inanna Rare Books – Reprint & Facsimile – Series].

The here reprinted publication is famous and rare due to it being the final product of one of the most daring acts of piracy by an english publisher, Philip Luckombe, who first published this text under the title “A Tour through Ireland” in the year 1780. What makes the 1788-edition valuable are the addition of several excellent Engravings, Maps and Plans of Cities in Munster (see here below a full list of the large and medium size reproductions of Maps, Plans and Engravings which come in a separate Folder, accompanying the two text-volumes).

The publication we see here warranted a Reproduction for it is very hard to find with all Illustrations present and especially the Engravings of Cork City, Kinsale, Youghal, Dungarvan and Waterford are possibly the finest and some of the earliest Illustrations of these Irish Cities and Irish Towns in the 18th century and should be present in every serious Irish History Collection.

The Maps of County Cork, County Kerry and County Waterford show not only the clarity of 18th century map-making but also give wonderful historical detail of the families who ruled and lived on the land by the placing of these families’ Coats of Arms on the Maps.

″The Compleat Irish Traveller” is the pinnacle of pirated Travel-Writing in Ireland and proof of its enduring success for the english audience of the 18th century.

American historian Susan M. Kroeg writes in her essay “Philip Luckombe’s ‘A Tour through Ireland’ (1780) and the Problem of Plagiarism” about the publication we have reprinted:

″According to Joep Leerssen, the reliability of a travel narrative, the extent to which the author actually experienced the events of which he writes, is ultimately ‘insignificant’; what matters is the degree to which the work met its audience’s expectations. Luckombe found and exploited the productive intersection of his readers’ expectations of Ireland and their expectations of travel writing and succeeded in plagiarising some of the most popular and prominent Irish travel narratives of the late eighteenth century.
In a final irony, the entire text of Luckombe’s Tour [‘A Tour through Ireland’] was pirated and republished anonymously in 1788 as “The Compleat Irish Traveller”– which, in a sense, it was.”

Philip Luckombe took most of the Illustrations, but not all, from the following publications by Charles Smith:

1. Charles Smith’s “Antient and Present State of the County of Waterford”
2. Charles Smith’s “Antient and Present State of the County and City of Cork”

What Luckombe did not do was altering the source of the engravings and who produced them.

Complete List of Reproductions of Plates included in the bespoke made Folder of the Luxury Reprint of this work:

1. Allegorical Frontispiece: “The Proprietor of the Irish Traveller presenting a Copy of that Work into the hand of Futurity to be preserved from the devastation of Time″

2. “A View of the Lighthouse in Dublin Harbour″

3. “View of Ringsend and Irishtown from Belmont, near Miltown″

4. “The Monument of Arthur Smith, D.D. late Archbishop of Dublin″

5. “Clark’s Skeleton” (Foldout Plate)

6. “Powerscourt Waterfall” (Foldout Plate)

7. Large Illustration of Waterford City in the 18th century: “To the Gentlemen of the Common Council of the City of Waterford this South Prospect of that City is humbly presented by their most obedient humble Servant Charles Smith”

8. Large Map of County Waterford in the 18th century: “A New and Correct Map of the County of Waterford by Charles Smith”

9. “Round Tower at Kildare″

10. “Abbey of Saint John in Kilkenny”

11. Large Illustration of Dungarvan in the 18th century: “‘To his Excellency Henry Boyle Esq., one of the Lords Justices of Ireland and Speaker of the Honorable House of Commons this N. E. Prospect of the Town of Dungarvan is Inscribed by his most obedient humble servant Ch. Smith”

12. Large Illustration of Youghal in the 18th century: “‘To the Right Honorable James Tynte, one of his Majesty’s most Honorable Privy Council & Representative in Parliament for this Town. This East Prospect of Youghal is Presented by his most obedient, humble servant, Ch. Smith”

13. Large Illustration of Cork City with Shandon in the 18th century: “To the Right worshipful the Mayor, Sheriff’s and Common Council of the City of Cork, this View of that City from the North is Inscribed by their most devoted humble servant, Ch. Smith”

14. Illustration of “The Exchange” [Meeting-Place and General Place of Commerce for Tradesmen and Merchants in Cork City in the 18th century (between the years 1705 and 1811) [Built between 1705 and 1710 by Architect Twiss Jones and demolished in 1837]

15. Large Illustration of “A New Plan of the City of Cork” [Bird’s Eye Plan of Cork City in the mid-18th century, with the Parishes of St. Finbarr, Christ Church, St. Peter’s, St. Mary – Shandon, St. Anne’s, St. Paul’s]: “To the Gentlemen of the Common Council of this City, this Map is inscribed by their most Humble Servant, Charles Smith”.

16. “Rock of Cashel”

17. Large Illustration of Kinsale and Kinsale Harbour in the 18th century: “To the Right Honourable Gerald de Courcey, Lord Baron of Kinsale, Courceys & Ringroan ; one of his Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council; This Prospect of Kinsale, Taken from ye Old Fort, is Inscribed by his Most obliged Humble Servant Charles Smith″

18. Large Illustration of Lismore Castle and surroundings in the 18th century: “To the Right Honourable Richard Boyle of Cork & Burlington and Lord High Treasurer of Ireland this North Prospect of his Lordship’s Seat of Lismore is most humbly Dedicated by his Lordship’s Devoted Humble Servant Ch.Smith″

19. Large Plan / Map of the ‘Grand Canal’ in the 18th Century, showing the course of the Canal from Dublin through the “Bog of Allen” and all adjacent countryside with Towns, Rivers, Loughs etc.: “The Course of the Grand Canal from Dublin to the River Shannon″

20. “The Chapel of Cormac – King of Munster A.D. 901″

21. “Irish Antiquities and Artefacts: Danish Trumpets / An Ancient Irish Weapon / The Form of the Cells at Ross-Carbery [Rosscarbery] / An Antique Spur / An Urn found near Castlesaffron″

22. “The West Prospect of the Nave, Choir & Steeple of Buttevant Abbey with St.Mary’s Chappel [sic] – [built by] Anthony Chearnley, Sculpt.″

23. “The Castle of Loghort, in the County of Cork in Ireland, belonging to John Perceval Earl of Egmont; strongly Fortified in teh Rebellion of 1641, surprised by the Irish in 1645, retaken by Cromwell’s Army in 1650″

24. “The Castle of Kanturk, the Capital Seat of the Cantred and Barony of Duhallow, in the County of Cork in Ireland, erected into an Honour by Patent 1615, the 13th of James Ist by the name of the Honour of Kanturk, belonging to John Perceval Earl of Egmont, Viscount of Kanturk &c.″

25. “West View of the Castle of Kanturk, the Capital Seat of the Cantred and Barony of Duhallow, in the County of Cork in Ireland, erected into an Honour by Patent 1615, the 13th of James Ist by the name of the Honour of Kanturk, belonging to John Perceval Earl of Egmont, Viscount of Kanturk &c.″

26. Large Map of County Cork in the 18th century: “A New and Correct Map of the County of Cork – To the Nobility and Gentlemen of this County, this Map drawn from an actual Survey is inscribed by their Most obedient humble Servant – Charles Smith”

The Map of County Cork is not only showing in fine detail the Towns and Villages of 18th century County Cork but also the Coat of Arms of the local Nobility and Gentlemen:

List of the following Coat of Arms of Nobility and Gentlemen in County Cork (in the year 1850), placed to the top right of the Map:

″Boyle – Earl of Cork” / “Fielding – Earl of Desmond” / “Barry – Earl of Barrymore” / “Boyle – Earl of Orrery” / “Perceval – Earl of Egmont” / “St.Leger – Viscount Doneraile” / “Chetwynd – Viscount Bearhaven” / “Brodrick – Viscount Middleton” [Midleton] / “Sees of Cork y Ross” [Bishoprics] / “See of Cloyne” [Bishopric] / “De Courcy – Baron of Kingsale” [Kinsale] / “Evans – Baron of Carbery” [Castle Freke] /

List of the following Coat of Arms of Nobility and Gentlemen in County Cork (in the year 1850), placed to the bottom right of the Map:

″Robert Fitz-Stephens” / “Miles de Cogan” / “Fitzgerald – Earl of Desmond” / “Ed Plantagenet – Earl of Cork” / “Touchet – Earl of Castlehaven” / “Vaughan – Earl of Carbery” / “Mc Carty [Mc Carthy]– Earl of Glancarty” / “Roche – Viscount of Fermoy” / “Boyle – Viscount Kinalmeaky” / “Berkley – Viscount Bearhaven” / “Roper – Baron of Bantry” /

27. “Dromona [sic] [correctly ‘Dromana’]– the Seat of Lord Grandison on the River Blackwater” [Pirated version by Luckombe of the Engraving by Paul Sandby and William Walker, originally created for G.Kearsly. The engraving shows Dromana House, Seat of the Fitzgeralds, Lords of the Decies, a junior branch of the Earls of Desmond]. Especially this illustration is lacking in most examples of “The compleat Irish Traveller” we know of.

28. Large Map of County Kerry in the 18th century: “The County of Kerry – To the Nobility and Gentry of this County this Map – Drawn from Actual Surveys is Inscribed by their most Obedient Servant – Charles Smith”.

Wonderful and detailed Map of County Kerry with all the important Seats and Towns and Rivers: Killarney and Lough Lane, Lakes of Killarney, Skelligs, Kenmare, shows all the Islands like the Great Blasket Islands, Castlemain Harbour, Kenmare River, Blackwater River etc. etc.

The Map also shows a List of the following Coat of Arms of Nobility and Gentry in County Kerry (in the year 1850), placed around the Map:

″Fitz-Morris Earl of Kerry” / “Herbert – Lord Castle Island” / “Gage – Viscount Gage of Castle Island” / “Feilding [sic] [Fielding] – Earl of Desmond” / “Annesley – Viscount Valentia” / “Child – Earl Tilney of Castlemain” / “Brown – Viscount Kenmair [sic] [Kenmare]” / “Mac Carty [Mac Carthy] – Earl of Gleneare” / “Petty – Viscount Dunkerron” / “Power – Viscount Valentia” / “Fitz-Gerald [Fitzgerald]– Earl of Desmond” / “Palmer – Earl of Castlemain” /

29. “View on the Lake of Killarney″

30. Engraving with two separate details:

A. “The South Prospect of Labacally or the Hag’s Bed”
B. “The North Prospect of Labacally or the Hag’s Bed″

31. “The Lough and Harbour of Belfast”
[Pirated version by Luckombe of an Engraving by Paul Sandby and William Walker]

• Keywords: 18.Jahrhundert · 18th Century · 18th century Map of Waterford and Surroundings · Belfast, Lough and Harbour · Blackwater River · Blasket Island (Ireland) · Blasket Islands · Books with vintage Maps · Catalogue Four – International Art · Catalogue Irish History Five – Local Irish History · Catalogue Irish History One – Ireland in Romantic & Historical Illustration · Catalogue Irish History Six – General Irish History · Catalogue Irish History Two – Origins of Irish Identity · Charles Smith · Cork · Cork (County) · Cork City · Cork City and Streets in the 18th century · Cork History · County Cork · County Kerry · County Waterford · Cromwell · Dungarvan · Dungarvan in the 18th century · Facsimile · Facsimile Map · Inanna Reprint Series · Inanna Reprints & Publishing · Ireland in Historical Illustration · Ireland in Romantic Illustration · Irish History – Rare · Irish History in the 18th century · Irish Map · Irish Maps · Kanturk · Kerry · Kinsale · Kinsale Harbour and Town in the 18th century · Lismore Castle in the 18th century · Maps · Munster · Munster Historical Names · Philip Luckombe (Publisher) · Rosscarbery · Waterford · Youghal in the 18th century
• Language: English
• Inventory Number: 31432AB

EUR 2.480,-- 

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