(London: A. and C. Black, 1912).

A HANDSOME WORK ON THE ITALIAN LAKES, a core work and one of the scarcer titles among Black's travel books. Primarily a tour of the Northern Italian Lakes region, this book succeeds in conjuring the endless beauty and variation found in a languid visit. Special attention is placed on Lake Como, Maggiore, and Orta, while Lugano, Lecco, Comacina, and some lesser known lakes are also explored. History, flora, the changes of the season and time of day, are woven into the text to create a satisfying guide for anyone planning to explore the area.
Du Cane s watercolours are marvelous, capturing many misty mornings and muted atmospheric lake scenes. Antique statuary and stately mansions rise above views of lake and mountain. Verdant foliage merges with the water s edge, and many delightful garden scenes, including azaleas in full bloom on Lago di Como are rendered. Item #30131

First edition, early printing. With 68 fine colourplate illustrations from the watercolour paintings of Ella Du Cane, each with captioned tissue-guards. 8vo, publisher s original sea blue cloth, pictorially and very attractively lettered and decorated in a vineyard motif in purple, green and cream, and yellow on the upper cover and in purple, green and cream, and gilt on the spine. xi, 195, index, 2 ads pp. A very handsome and well preserved copy, the text and plates uncommonly clean and fresh, this is a book typically found foxed and this copy is essentially free of any but for a touch on the endsheets. The cloth is very fresh and clean too, only the lightest of age mellowing.