Illustrations of the Scenery of Killarney and the Surrounding Country. London: Longman, 1807. First Edition. Pp vii, 223. Illustrated with 17 engraved plates & 2 maps. Contemporary full tree calf, spine ruled in gilt, letterpiece in gilt. Light wear to spine & hinges, contents bright & clean, plates with original tissue-guards intact. A very good copy.

Isaac Weld (1774 – 1856) was a topographical writer, explorer, and artist. He was educated at Whyte’s school, Grafton Street, Dublin and in Norwich, Norfolk. He visited Killarney, navigated the lakes in a boat he made from compressed brown paper, and published this work in 1807, illustrated with his own drawings. He is also well known for his drawings of American life and, in particular, the Niagara Falls. In May 1815 he sailed from Dún Laoghaire to London in the 14-horsepower steamboat ‘Thomas’ the first such vessel to make the passage. He compiled the ‘Statistical Survey of the County of Roscommon’ (1838) for the Royal Dublin Society, of which he was Honourary Secretary and Vice President.