WILTSHIRE. RUTTER (John). A Description of Fonthill Abbey, and Demesne, Wilts; the seat of William Beckford, Esq., Including a List of its numerous and valuable Paintings, Cabinets, and other Curiosities. Intended as a Guide to the Visitor, and to convey Information to the more distant Enquirer.1822

Shaftesbury: Printed and Published by John Rutter, First edition 8vo (210 x 133 mm), [4], 66pp., frontispiece engraved view of Fonthill, original printed wrappers, a little stained, stitched issued, nicely preserved in a morocco-backed marbled slip-case. The rare first edition of Rutter's guide to Fonthill which was hastily rushed in production when the great sale of the contents was first announced. Five more editions were to follow in the year, testifying to the intense public interest in Fonthill and Beckford's collections whipped up by the prospective sale of Fonthill's contents at auction. Provenance: From the library of Josceline Grove, with bookplate and their typed catalogue description pasted to front endpapers. Holmes, p.104; Cooper II, PP.95-96.