LUCAS, Fielding (1781-1854). Lucas' Progressive Drawing Book, in three parts... Consisting Chiefly of Original Views of American Scenery, and Embracing the Latest and Best Improvements in the Mode of Instruction. Baltimore: Fielding Lucas Jr, [1827].

"To stamp it with a national character, we have endeavored, as much as possible, to make it a collection of American views..."

Fielding Lucas's rare early color plate book. "The most ambitious of Lucas' publications, with drawing instruction and landscape views by John H.B. Latrobe, executed in aquatint by John Hill. Lucas freely confessed to having borrowed heavily from English works on drawing in compiling the book, but he sought as much as possible to use American views in order 'to stamp it with national character.' In this case, Lucas was producing a book which would compete in the marketplace with imported English works, and he probably hoped to capitalize on the patriotic element lent by the American scenes" (Stamped with a National Character). Views show the lower Susquehanna, the Balise at the mouth of the Mississippi, and several scenes along the Hudson. Rare on the market: the only complete copy we locate in the records of RBH is the William Reese copy sold in 2022 (which is planned for institutional donation). Stamped with a National Character 8.

Oblong folio (250 x 364mm). In three parts, general title and part 3 title with hand-colored engraved vignettes; plus 38 plates, including 11 hand-colored aquatints and 1 tinted aquatint (some spotting and foxing, stray pencil mark to pl.I.15, a few small brown stains in images including to pl.). Two hand-colored color keys. Contemporary half morocco over marbled boards, printed paper title label (spine perished and covers detached, top corner of upper cover leather missing, well-rubbed). Provenance: Alexander Fridge of Baltimore (near contemporary pencil gift inscription to:) – Rosslyn C. Vass – inscriptions in another early hand reading "Falmouth 1828 / Fredericksburg 1834 / Spotts C[oun]ty Va"