Rare set of fifty views of churches and villages surrounding London, bound in original wrappers.

The work consists of small views of churches and villages that surrounded early Georgian London; these include, among others, Chelsea, Battersea, Highgate, Hampstead, Barnes, Kew, and St Pancras. The views were the work of the topographical draughtsman Jean Chatelain (1710-1758), and engraved by James Roberts (1725-1799), most probably Henry’s brother. The set was first published by Henry Roberts in around 1750 under the titie: ‘Fifty small original, and elegant views of the most splendid churches, villages, rural prospects. and masterly pieces of architecture, adjacent to London’.

The present example can be dated to around 1775 as eight of the views bear the imprint of Robert Sayer. Sayer and his business partner John Bennett had acquired the plates sometime before 1775, as they appear in their sales catalogue of that year under the title:

‘Fifty Views of Villages, &c. from the most agreeable Prospects near London, drawn by the celebrated M. Chatelain, may be had in the following Numbers, for the Amusement of Youth in drawing after Nature. Priced 6d. each’.

The catalogue divides the views into eight numbered sections: the first three containing views of villages to the south and west; numbers 4 and 5 villages to the west and north; 6 and 7 north and east; and 8 the south; with the view at the beginning of each section bearing the imprint of Robert Sayer.

Rare we are only able to trace four complete examples, which bear the Sayer imprint: The New York Historical Society; the Folger Shakespeare Library; and the Yale Institute of British Art. The present example, without the title page – which would appear to never have been bound in with the present set – conforms to the example in the British Library; both the Folger, and N.Y.H.S. example bear a printed title page; with the Yale example bearing a title in manuscript.

Contents:

1. The South East View of Chelsea Church (imprint of R. Sayer – Fleet Street).
2. The North East View of Chelsea Hospital.
3. The North View of Battersea.
4. The South West View of Battersea Church.
5. The East View of Wandsworth.
6. The South West View of Wandsworth Church.
7. The South View of Chiswick. (imprint of R. Sayer – near Serjeants Inn Fleet Street).
8. A View of Fulham-Bridge and Putney.
9. A View of St. Pauls Chappel Hammersmith.
10. A View of Fulham Church from the Bridge.
11. The North View of Chiswick Church.
12. The South View of Barnes.
13. The West View of Barnes Church. (imprint – R. Sayer – Fleet Street).
14. The North View of Row Hampton.
15. The East View of Mortlake.
16. The North View of Mortlake Church.
17. The East View of Kew and Strand Green.
18. The South West View of Isleworth Church.
19. A View of Ealing. (imprint – R. Sayer – Fleet Street).
20. A View of the Village of Oackington.
21. The View of Kingsbury.
22. The South View of Willsden.
23. The South West View of Willsden Church.
24. The South View of Kensington.
25. The North West View of Paddington Church. (imprint of R. Sayer – near Serjeants Inn Fleet Street).
26. A View of Paddington Church from the Green.
27. The South East View of Kensington Church.
28. A View of St Mary le Bone Church.
29. The South East View of Pancrass Church.
30. The South West View of Pamcras Church and the Wells.
31. The South East View of Hampstead Church. (imprint – R. Sayer – Fleet Street).
32. The South View of the Spaniards near Hampstead.
33. The South East View of Highgate Chappel.
34. The South West View of Highgate Chappel.
35. The North West View of Hornsey Church.
36. The North View of Islington.
37. A View of St Mary’s Church Islington. (imprint – R. Sayer – Fleet Street).
38. The South East View of Cambray House.
39. The South West View of Newington Church.
40. The North West View of Newington.
41. The South East View of Tottenham Church.
42. The North West View of Tottenham Church.
43. The South East View of Camberwel Church. (imprint of R. Sayer – near Serjeants Inn Fleet Street).
44. The North West View of Hackney Church.
45. The South West View of Hummerton Church.
46. The South East View of Brook House.
47. The North East View of Newington Church.
48. The South West View of Newington Church.
49. The South East View of Hackney Church.
50. The North East View of Camberwel Church.