The People's Scripture Gallery of Engravings. Selected from the Queen's, the National, the Dulwich, the Stafford, the Grosvenor, and other Collections, Ancient and Modern. London: J. & F. Tallis, c. 1845. [12457]
A large volume in full green morocco, decorated in gilt, sometime roughly repaired with green paper over the spine and binding corners, 11 x 8 3/4 inches. All page edges gilt; the original black morocco spine title label is present, with bright gilt lettering. We think the binding case has been pasted to the interior spine, making the book stiff to open with the paper hinge at the frontis & engraved title page open, yet all remaining tightly attached. Foxing to the frontis & engraved title page; the rest of the plates are generally in very good condition. 141 plates total; 124, 124, [4] pp. of text. This is two volumes bound as one. The binding has been inartfully repaired; the plates, except for the first two that are foxed, are in very good condition. A few top margins bumped/chipped, the image "Pharaoh's Dream" in the photos is left untrimmed so that you can see this. Good. Hardcover.
"The publisher used this form of name [J. & F. Tallis] between 1842 and 1849." - WorldCat.
The engravers for this volume are J. Rogers, Henry Wallis, Joseph Bolls, and others.
There are 141 plates: 139 fine plates of Bible scenes by famous artists, plus an engraved portrait of the Rev. Matthew Henry; in addition, the engraved title page has a scene of a Victorian-era marriage, with the reverend, bride & groom, and wedding party.
The Bible scenes are each bordered with vignettes. The texts describe the scene, give the Bible reference, and sometimes give details about the artist or painter.
In 1844 & 1845 the Rev. G. N. Wright issued The People’s Gallery of Engravings through Fisher, Son & Co. and The Caxton Press. It was issued in parts with about 130 engravings and 136 pages of text. It was primarily of landscape scenes, castles, architecture, and the like.
The volume offered here we believe to also have been compiled by Rev. Wright, although we have only an engraved title page with no proper imprint. It is all very similar in design, appears to have been issued in parts, and the plates are of the same high quality.
The Rev. John Kitto edited a book with a similar title, but this appears to be a different book than that one.
George Newenham Wright (c. 1794-1877), b. Dublin, Ireland; d. Bath, England. He earned both a B.A. and M.A from Trinity College, Dublin, and was curate of several Irish parishes before moving to London, were he became a teacher of classics, and master of the Tewkesbury Grammar School. He wrote several valuable books of travel and and British history, which were profusely illustrated with large, fine engravings.
