With A Series of Twenty-seven coloured Engravings. ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE COSTUMES, MANNERS, AND OCCUPATIONS OF THE Inhabitants of that Island. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY R. ACKERMANN. 1821. In 4.º (de 27x19,5 cm) com v-118-(vi) pags. Encadernação ao gosto da época inteira de pele com ferros a ouro nas pastas, lombada e seixas. Exemplar por aparar apenas dourado por folhas à cabeça. Ilustrado com 27 magnificas águas tintas. Obra publicada sem nome do autor. Cabral do Nascimento, Estampas Antigas da Madeira, 65: “Vinte e seis das gravuras são deliciosas charges, e a última, já sem feição caricatural, representa a fortaleza do Ilhéu, o celebrado Loo Fort dos ingleses. O frontispício da obra tem uma vinheta que mostra uma vista do Funchal. O Sr. Alberto de Sousa, na sua já citada obra «Historia do Trajo Popular em Portugal» inclui vinte destas estampas, assim como duas da colecção Macphail, vilão e viloa, aquele muito no estilo de William Combe.”

 Binding: full calf replicating contemporary style (red marrocco gilt at spine; at board frames; and at inner edges). Paper edges front and below uncut; and gilt at the top one. Illustrated with 27 aquatint plates. Title page has also an aquatint colored vignette. First edition and printing. Work published anonymously, known written by William Combe, then 79 years old. The text is a critical survey of the costumes, manners and folklore of Madeira Island, illustrated with masterpiece printed drawings on the daily life and public characters. Contents of the survey are embellished with a poem after the initial prose. Together with the aquatints they intend to display character as well as public and private costumes, daily occupations, and promenades not without a deep touch of humor. List of plates: West View of Lee Fort (frontispiece); Inside of a Cottage; Rural Occupations; Peasants going to Market; Manner of Cultivating the Ground; A Farmer & his Daughter going to Town; Rural Toil; Costume peculiar to some of the Western Inhabitants of the Island; Fishermen; Manner of bringing Wine to Town when clear; Manner of drawing Pipes &c. by means of the Sledge; An Accident upon the Road; A Pior of the Order of St. Francis, & a Lay Brother; A Franciscan Friar collecting Donations for his Convent; A Franciscan Father on a Journey; Priests in different Attire; Lay Sisters of the Order of the Lady of Mount Carmel; A Nun and her Attendant; A Lady & her Servant going to Church; Usual Manner of Travelling in Hammocks; Manner of Visiting among the Ladies at Funchal; Members of the Senate; Official Dress of the members of the Camera or Senate on the Death of the King and Accession of his Successor; An Officer & private of the Garrison of Funchal.