A. W. Benett

One of the first books illustrated with photography, rare. 14 albumen photographs mounted, under tissue guards, of Scottish views and landscapes including as frontispiece the Gothic ruined tomb of Walter Scott. Each photograph in square format measuring 9x9cm. An edition had appeared in 1863 with only 9 photographs published by Adam and Charles Black.
Publisher's binding. Midnight blue shagreen-grained cloth boards richly decorated. Smooth spine stamped with a special plate featuring monastic ornaments and sword around which verses from the poem are entwined. Large ornamental plate on covers with the Lady of the Lake in a central medallion, a unicorn and a stag. Edges gilt. Rubbing to headcaps. The 2 lower corners bumped. Traces of discoloration to the lower right corner of upper and lower covers. Some occasional light foxing to an otherwise fresh copy. Handsome copy in its rare publisher's boards.
The Lady of the Lake refers to Arthurian myth and legends and tells the story of Scotland. The poem was first published in 1810 and had great impact on Romantic literature. The photographs are the work of 2 photography pioneers: G. W. Wilson and Thomas Ogle, and are of incredible quality.