A very rare portfolio containing 65 steel engravings of historic sites in Greater Poland. 1841

RACZYŃSKI, Edward—Memories of Greater Poland. Engravings. [Poznań 1842]. folio, 46 plates. Contemporary half-leather binding.
Spine repaired; scuffing on the edges of the cover; new endpapers; slight creases, tears, and missing sections on several plates. One plate is missing. The spine bears a gilt inscription reading “Memoirs of Greater Poland. Engravings.” A monumental work serving as an album of engravings for Edward Raczyński’s *Memoirs of Greater Poland* (Poznań 1842–1843). It originally contained 66 steel engravings depicting the monuments of Greater Poland (one engraving is missing here) and one additional plate. The album contained the first iconographic documentation of the region’s monuments; the Gniezno Doors were reproduced here for the first time. The drawings were created by the author of the memoirs, Edward Raczyński; his wife, Konstancja née Potocka; his brother Atanazy; Józefa Radolińska; General Władysław Kosiński; Bishop Anzelm Brodziszewski; and Henryk Zabiełło. The preparation of the plates was entrusted to the engravers: Georg Döbler (Prague), Johann Passini (Vienna), Augustin F. Lemaître (Paris), and Johann G. Frenzel (Dresden). In the album presented here, the engravings are arranged according to the numbers visible on the plates; illustration no. 33 (“Monument to Jan Sprowski”?) is missing, while “Castle in Zbąszyń,” which has no number, was inserted as engraving no. 59. Each plate contains one or two steel engravings. Raczyński added to this collection a copperplate engraving titled “Cascade in Sofiówka,” taken from his *Travel Diary of a Journey to Turkey Undertaken in 1814*.Very rare.
This piece includes: The Castle in Szamotuły, Ruins of the Castle in Międzyrzecz, The Church in Grodzisk, The Castle in Opalenica, The Palace in Jankowice, The Small Castle on the Island near Trzebaw, The Church in Rogalin, Interior view of the burial chapel in Rogalin, a mill on the Warta River near Rogalin, the castle in Kórnik, the church in Kórnik, the church in Środa (depiction of a local council meeting in that town), View near Śrem, Church in Zaniemyśl, Church of the 20th Order of the Philippine Fathers in Gostyń, Interior view of the Church of the 20th Order of the Philippine Fathers in Gostyń, Church in Pampów, Rydzyna Castle, the outer courtyard of Rydzyna Castle, Włoszokowice Castle, Drahim Castle, the Palace in Wieleń, Tuczno Castle, a general view of Poznań, the old city walls of Poznań, City Hall in Poznań, Public Library in Poznań, Władysław Warneńczyk in Czeffa, The Górka Family Tomb in Poznań, Poznań Cathedral, Łukasz Górka’s Tombstone, Bernard Lubrański’s Tombstone, The Ancient Tomb of Bolesław Chrobry, The Powodowski Tomb, The Former Jesuit Church in Poznań, St. Joseph’s Church in Kalisz, The Bridge over the Prosna River in Kalisz, Chapel in the church in Radlin, the castle in Koźmin, the palace in Dobrzyca, the chapel in Dobrzyca, the castle in Gołuchów, the castle courtyard in Gołuchów, the castle in Borysławice, Palace in Antonin, Castle in Wyszyna, Church in Konin, Castle in Uniejów, Gniezno Cathedral, Bronze Doors at Gniezno Cathedral, Tomb of St. Adalbert, Bas-relief from the original tomb of St. Adalbert, Tomb of Jan Grot of Ruda Dybowska, Tomb of Primate Baranowski, Tombstone of Jakub of Senno,  Krzycki’s Tomb, the Stalls in Gniezno Cathedral, Zbąszyń Castle, Zbigniew of Oleśnica’s Tombstone, Architectural Ornaments in the Siemianowski Chapel, the Church in Trzemeszno, Ruins on the Island near Lenná Góra, the Castle on the Gonsawa River, the Castle in Gołańcz, the Mouse Tower in Kruszwica, and the Waterfall in Sofiówka.