Proof prints, in two states, of aquatint engravings in volumes 6 and 7 of William's Daniell's A voyage round Great Britain. All plates issued in the published work are here included in two versions: the first state is a proof before letters; the second state is a final proof, without hand coloring. Each final state version includes an engraved frame to the image, a caption, and an imprint reading "Drawn & engraved by Willm. Daniell. Published by W. Daniell, Cleveland Street, Fitzroy Square, London, July 1, 1822" (prints in v. 7 are dated Augt. 1, 1823). Both volumes of proofs include a preliminary pencilled note by Daniell, reading "The first & finished proofs of vol. 6 [and vol. 7], coast of Gt. Britain. The only copy. W. Daniell." Proofs for the remaining 6 volumes are not known to exist. The proofs illustrate the sequence of alterations made by Daniell to complete each aquatint engraving. In the first state, the image is engraved by aquatint alone. In this version, a granular tone is applied across the entire surface of the engraving, while different degrees of lightness and darkness within the image are achieved by delicate and precise stopping out with an acid resist. In this manner, in the hands of a skilled aquatintist like Daniell, a nearly finished illustration could be achieved, without the help of etched outlines for laying the tones. Daniell's etched lines appear in final proof of each image to articulate the finest details, such as the masts and rigging of ships. Final proofs frequently show greater contrast of light and dark and include the occasional change in details, such as the insertion of birds or figures. While the first state of proofs are all printed in a single tone of ink (usually a dark sepia), the final proofs are often inked with two colors in a single run through the circular press. In such cases the foreground is inked in sepia, while the background (often the sky or sea) is inked in a lighter blue-gray. In published copies of this work, the engravings would be hand-colored, obscuring the subtle effect of the two-toned printing. The scenery in these two volumes includes the latter portion of Daniell's great journey. Volume 6 depicts locations along most of the east coast of Britain, from Banff in northern Scotland, to South End, in Essex. Volume 7 begins across the Thames Estuary, at Sheerness, and continues clockwise around the southern coast of England to Weymouth and the Isle of Wight. A complete inventory of the scenes is available in Abbey.
