A Rare Series of Views Showing Cheltenham - the Spa Town at the Height of its Fashion HULLEY, T[homas]. Six Views of Cheltenham: From Drawings made by Mr. T. Hulley. Price, in Colours, £1 1s. London: Published at R. Ackermann's, 1813. Oblong folio (11 1/2 x 14 inches; 292 x 355 mm.). Six superb hand-colored aquatint plates by H. Merke and J. Buck after Hulley. All plates with "London, Pubd. 1 June 1813 at R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, 101 Strand." The third plate watermarked "J. Whatman 1812". Publishers printed drab stitched wrappers with title and imprint on upper cover within a decorative border. Bookplate of Joel Spitz tipped onto verso of front cover and Maxine and Joel Spitz library stamp on inside of rear cover. Housed in a green cloth clamshell case, spine with black morocco label lettered in gilt. Maxine and Joel Spitz library stamp repeated three times on inside of case. A remarkable survival - a fine uncut copy of this rare series of views showing the spa town at the height of its fashion. This historical account highlights the evolution of Cheltenham from a modest town to a renowned spa destination, driven by the discovery and promotion of its healing spring. The royal visit further solidified its status, and subsequent developments contributed to its popularity in the nineteenth century. The town attracted notable visitors, including Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, and Liszt. Cheltenham is a spa town and borough on the edge of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, England. Cheltenham became known as a renowned health and holiday spa town resort since the discovery of mineral springs there in 1716. The visit of George III with the queen and royal princesses in 1788 set a stamp of fashion on the spa. Cheltenham is famed for its fine Georgian architecture, recorded in the present set of fine fresh plates. Thomas Hulley (active 1798-1819) was a British artist who worked in oil and watercolors. The plates: 1. Montpellier Pump Room. 2. The Assembly Room. 3. Hygeia House. 4. The Crescent. 5. Well Walk. 6. Old Wells & Pump Room. Provenance: Maxine and Joel Spitz (bookplate and ink stamp, sold their sale, Christie's, 27th May, 2015, lot 6). Abbey, Scenery 93; Bobins IV, 1439; Prideaux, p. 331; Tooley 274.
