1811 Antique Scarce Print; Maidenhead Bridge after Samuel Owen

Description: On offer: an original (i.e. not a later reproduction) scarce print of "Maidenhead Bridge". A view taken of the Thames bridge. This is a particularly desirable large paper (Royal Octavo) example with wide margins and on higher quality paper. Offered with the original sheet of text describing the view. DATE PRINTED: 1811. Dated 1810 on the print, the date of engraving. There were further editions of this publication in 1822 and 1828, which retained 35 of the views published in 1811. This view was not re-published in these later editions and only appeared in the original 1811 edition, so particularly scarce.SIZE: The printed area including titles is approximately 19.5 x 13 cm, 7.75 x 5.25 inches (medium) plus margins. ARTIST/CARTOGRAPHER/ENGRAVER: Drawn by Samuel Owen and engraved by W. Cooke. Samuel Owen (1769? – 8 December 1857) was an English marine painter and illustrator. William Bernard Cooke (1778 – 2 August 1855), was an English line engraver. Cooke was born in London in 1778. He was the elder brother of George Cooke (1781–1834), and became a pupil of William Angus (1752–1821). After the termination of his apprenticeship he obtained employment upon the plates for Brewer's "Beauties of England and Wales", and then undertook the publication of "The Thames" which was completed in 1811, and for which he engraved almost all the plates after Samuel Owen. PROVENANCE: Published in "The Thames Or graphic illustrations of seats, villas, public buildings and picturesque scenery on the Banks of that Noble River. Vernor, Hood & Sharpe, 1811." etched by W.B Cooke & George Cooke of London and published by Vernor Hood & Sharpe, London. Ref: Cohen p.134.TYPE: Antique copper plate engraving printed on paper. VERSO: There is nothing printed on the reverse side, which is blank. CONDITION: Good, suitable for framing. Please check the scan for any blemishes prior to making your purchase. Virtually all antiquarian maps and prints are subject to some normal aging due to use and time which is not significant unless otherwise stated. I offer a no questions asked return policy. AUTHENTICITY: This is an authentic antique print, published at the date stated above. I do not offer reproductions. It is not a modern copy. The term 'original' when applied to a print means that it was printed at the first or original date of publication; it does not imply that the item is unique. RETURNS POLICY: I offer a no questions returns policy. All I ask is that you pay return shipping and mail back to me in original condition. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Maidenhead Bridge is a Grade I listed bridge carrying the A4 road over the River Thames between Maidenhead, Berkshire and Taplow, Buckinghamshire, England. It crosses the Thames on the reach above Bray Lock, about half a mile below Boulter's Lock. In 1750 the bridge was in a state of disrepair and a contract for "great works" was awarded to Mr Stiff Leadbetter of Eaton. The estimated cost was £600 and the actual cost on the final bill was £794 9s 2d – equivalent to £113 thousand today. This prompted the corporation to consider the large ongoing cost of maintaining the old structure and decision was made to build an entirely new bridge. Two designs were submitted. Mr Fuller White proposed a timber structure and Robert Taylor a thirteen-arch Portland stone bridge. The corporation preferred Taylor's design but demanded that the original cost of £25,000 (equivalent to £2.96 million today) be reduced. Taylor therefore modified the design so that only the river arches were of Portland stone, the rest in brick. The rebuilding was authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1771 and Taylor's design was built by John Townsend of Oxford (builder of Swinford Bridge) at a total cost of £19,000 (equivalent to £2.22 million today). Works were delayed until a temporary ferry had been constructed and the foundation stone was laid by the Mayor of Maidenhead on 19 October 1772. After delays caused by ice, frost and flooding the centre arch was completed in 1775. The new bridge was finished and finally opened for traffic in 1777. Please explore my ebay shop for more antique prints. Track Page Views With Auctiva's FREE Counter

Price: 17.99 GBP

Location: Marlow

End Time: 2025-01-13T07:48:30.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6.4 GBP