An inquiry into the origin and early history of engraving
Subtitle: upon copper and in wood, with an account of engravers and their works, from the invention of chalcography by Maso Finiguerra, to the time of Marc' Antonio Raimondi
By: by William Young Ottley, F.S.A.
Contributors: Beckford, William, 1760-1844, former owner; Bromley, William, 1769-1842; Dürer, Albrecht, 1471-1528; Edwards, George, 1694-1773; Swaine, John, 1775-1860
Publisher: Printed for John and Arthur Arch by J. M'Creery
Published: 1816
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 836
Notes: Twenty-two plates, one folded, one included in pagination (p. [145-46]).

Plates include four from original woodblocks by Albrecht Dürer "in the posession of P.E. Boissier." Two plates signed by Swaine and Bromley respectively as engraver.

Includes index.

Errata slip tipped in, v. 1, c. 1.

Getty c. 1 has label of Biblioteca T. de Marinis, and armorial bookplate of Gerolamo, marchese d'Adda (1815-1881).

Getty c. 2 is large paper (40 cm.), with hand-colored second copies of the first two plates. Guard leaves. Bound in marbled paper, half calfskin; rebacked, preserving original backstrips; "Fonthill binding," according to clipping from dealer's catalog mounted inside front cover, with Latimer crosses and cinquefoils in gilt on spines. Signature "...Hurd" on t.p., v. 1.

Inserted in v. 2, c. 2 is hand-colored etching of a bustard, signed by G. Edwards and dated 1746.