[A view of London from Islington together with the rare key plate]

SWERTNER, John
A View of the Cities of London and Westminster with the Suburbs and Circumjacent Country. London: Swertner, 1789. Aquatint with etching, original colour. 325 x 735mm. With etched key plate, 130 x 750mm, coloured.
View of Westminster and the City of London from Islington, showing Church Street in the foreground, Upper Street and Lower Road; with New River and City Road in the distance. Builders work on Islington Chapel surrounded by domestic gardens, a horse-drawn carriage and cattle. The key plate contains an extensive list of the landmarks of the city. The Rev. John Swertner was a Moravian Minister and in 1787 he ascended the spire of St Mary's, Islington which was being fitted with a lightning conductor at the time and due to the novel wickerwork scaffolding in which it was encased, had become somewhat of a local attraction. The present print was produced soon after this ascent.
[Ref: 9699]    £2,000.00 ($3,140 • €2,340 rates)