Corrected Autograph Manuscript and Typescript of a chapter of a book by F. J. H. Darton [Frederick Joseph Harvey Darton] titled 'The Microcosm of England', on the London publisher Rudolph Ackermann, headed 'Aquatint collection draft'.

Both items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight rust spotting. Manuscript: 12pp, 4to. On twelve leaves, paginated 1-12. With emendations and corrections. Note at head of page: 'Dates & title meant to be typical only: subject to revision from collection catalogue etc & to fit later details of book.' Also at head of page, in red pencil: 'Aquatint collection draft first chapter'. Manuscript: 9pp., 4to. On nine leaves attached with stud (last leaf loose). The piece begins: 'The first book containing coloured aquatint illustrations published by the man who made such volumes popular is The Microcosm of London. It came from the Repository of Arts, at 101 Strand: the bookseller-publishers of that day were fond of large-sounding titles for their domed libraries, like the Temple of the Muses or the Juvenile Repository. No. 101 Strand was kept by a very enterprising Saxon, Rudolph Ackermann, who since his arrival in London in the 'nineties of the eighteenth century had been a skilled coach-designer, the proprietor of a drawing school, and a printseller.' While there is no indication of the book of which this was the intended first chapter, nor any record of its publication, it is likely to have been published in some form: Darton's literary output was voluminous, as his entry in the Oxford DNB indicates.