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Lettered, upper center: "UNDER THE PATRONAGE, AND DEDICATED WITH PERMISISON TO | HIS MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY GEORGE THE FOURTH. | PORTS OF ENGLAND, | FROM ORIGINAL DRAWINGS MADE EXPRESSLY FOR THE WORK, | BY | J.M.W. TURNER, ESQ. R.A. | TO BE ENGRAVED IN HIGHLY-FINISHED MEZZOTINTO BY | THOMAS LUPTON."; lettered, center: "SIZE OF THE PLATES, 9 inches by 6 1/2 - and to be printed on small folio. | PRICE OF THE WORK. - Prints, 8s. 6d. - Proofs, 12s. 6d. - Proofs on India Paper, 14s. | NOTWITHSTANDING the many splendid and useful publications undertaken by various persons within | the last twenty years, it appears somewhat extraordinary that in a maritime nation like England, | immeasurably indebted to her naval achievements for opulance and glory, a subject so deeply | interesting and so intimately connected with her general history as a Series of Views illustrative of | her several Sea Ports and Harbours, should have been to this period neglected. | A work of this kind (hitherto unattempted on an extended scale) comprising all the licensed and | chartered ports of the country; has been long in preparation, and is now proposed to be published in | Numbers, the first of which will appear on the first of May next, and will contain Two Views, to be | delivered in the order of subscription: Twelve Numbers to form a Volume at the completion of | each volume will be published in handsome letterpress (detached) an Historical Account of the | Rise and Progress of the Ports up to the present Time; the whole forming a complete Graphic and | Historical Illustration of the British Ports.| As the greatest care and attention will be given to the execution of this work, it is determined | not to endanger its excellence by a rigid compliance with a fixed period of publication: the intervals | between the production of each number will, however, be as short as the requisite attention to the | work will allow. | When it is considered how many pleasing associations- how many recollections dear to the well- | founded national pride and best feelings of Englishmen arise even involuntarily on contemplating such | subjects- the almost countless host of Naval heroes who with well-omened hope, have embarked | from these ports and have returned to them in glorious triumph, shedding immortal lustre on their | country- the magnificence and national importance of the ports themselves, and their immense | superiority over those of other nations - it is impossible for the Artist to feel otherwise than confident | of the partonage of a discerning public."; lettered, lower center: "LONDON: | PUBLISHED (MAY 1826) BY THOMAS LUPTON, 7, LEIGH-STREET, BURTON-CRESCENT."