Books by William Gilpin (2). Gilpin, William. Observations on the River Wye, and Several Parts of South Wales, &c. Relative Chiefly to Picturesque Beauty; Made in the Summer of the Year 1770. London, R.Blamire, 1782. First edition. 15 oval aquatint plates printed in sepia, (4),xii, 99pp., marbled endpapers, 8vo., contemporary tree calf with extremities rubbed and worn, neatly rebacked, with red title label. Most of the pages facing the plates have some light offsetting, otherwise very clean.William Gilpin (1724-1804), a leader of the 18th century cult of the Picturesque. This is the first of his books describing his travels around the British Isles in search of and defining the picturesque; Gilpin, William. Observations on Several Parts of Great Britain, Particularly the High-Lands of Scotland, Relative Chiefly to Picturesque Beauty, Made in the Year 1776. London, T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1808. Third Edition. Two volumes.Vol.1: 19 oval plates printed in sepia, 3 coloured maps, 2 diagram plates, xxviii, 221pp.advert leaf. Vol.2: 14 sepia plates, 2 coloured maps, viii, 195pp., advert leaf. All edges uncut, 8vo., recent rebind to style in burgundy 1/2 calf, marbled boards, spines gilt with black title labels. Some light offsetting from plates,but generally clean and crisp. a very good copy. William Gilpin (1724-1804), a leader of the 18th century cult of the Picturesque. This is one of his books describing his travels around the British Isles in search of and defining the picturesque.