Books and Manuscripts

Major, Thomas
The Ruins of Paestum, Otherwise Posidonia, in Magna Graecia
London: Published by T. Major, Printed by James Dixwell, 1768. First edition. Folio, 21 1/4 x 14 1/2 in. (540 x 368 mm). (ii), 45, (1) pp. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on front free endpaper, "The Revd Edwd Wollaston from the Author--Mr Major." Illustrated with 25 engraved plates, engraved coat of arms on dedication page, and six engraved head- and tail-pieces, by Major after Jolli, and others. Contemporary three-quarter tan calf over marbled paper-covered boards, front board detached, spine and boards worn and rubbed, extremities and corners worn; all edges trimmed; front free endpaper loose; inscription of front paste-down, "Edward Wollaston with his Father's Love, 1821"; additional inscription at head of front free endpaper, "Edwdus Wollaston. Donum Auctoris" (gift of the author). Blackmer 1065

Rare presentation copy of Thomas Major's influential work on the ruins at Paestum (Poseidonia), a key text that helped spur the Greek Revival movement in Great Britain. Born in Buckinghamshire around 1720, Major began his career in 1745 in Paris apprenticing under the French engraver Jacques-Philippe le Bas. Briefly imprisoned by the French, in 1747 he returned to London where he became engraver to Frederick, Prince of Wales, and then in 1758, chief seal engraver to King George II. A patron of the Duke of Cumberland, Major engraved works on the archaeological sites at Palmyra in 1753, and Baalbek in 1757 and, in 1754, issued a major catalogue of his print work. In 1768 he published the above work on the popular Italian ruins, discovered in 1746 and then a popular stop on the European Grand Tour due to their proximity to Naples. Major executed his magnificent engravings with assistance he received from French architect J.G. Soufflot who provided drawings, and from Sir James Gray of the Society of Dilettanti and British ambassador at Madrid, who provided landscape paintings by Antoine Jolli.

We have not been able to locate another presentation copy in the auction record. A handsome unsophisticated copy with strong impressions.