View near Niton with Lettered Key to Westcliff House, Isle of Wight, 1826

An original Brannon engraving of a view near Niton, Isle of Wight, carrying an engraved key that names three buildings in the scene, published in London on the first of May 1826. Beneath the image a lettered explanation identifies the hotel and tap, William's lodging house, and Westcliff House, the seat of J. Holford, so that a visitor could stand in the landscape and read off exactly what he was looking at. The view itself shows those buildings set among trees and enclosures on the slope above the Undercliff, with the road running through and the sea beyond. A key of this sort is unusual in the series and makes the plate far more informative than a simple picturesque view of the same ground.

The view belongs to Vectis Scenery, George Brannon's series of original and select views of the Isle of Wight, printed and published by the engraver himself at Wotton Common on the island in 1829 and sold by the principal local booksellers. Brannon drew the subjects on the spot and cut the copper plates himself, so draughtsman and engraver are one man throughout. The volume's own advertisement leaf describes a first series of twenty-eight views with a map and letter-press, with a further twenty views issued separately as a Sequel. The technique is line engraving on copper. The views were issued uncolored, as line engravings on white paper, and this impression is uncolored.

Keyed views were made for the tourist and for the property owner, and this one shows the business of early island tourism in miniature: a hotel, a lodging house that took paying visitors under its keeper's name, and a gentleman's seat, all identified on the plate. That gives it unusual research value, since the lettering fixes names to buildings in 1826 which later maps and directories can be checked against. It is the sheet to choose for anyone with a connection to Niton or the Undercliff. Framed with the Sandrock Hotel and the chalybeate spring plates from the same volume it makes a small documentary group on the Niton resort trade.

Even age toning. Handling soiling along the bottom, right and top edges. Scattered foxing in the margin. All four corners complete.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.