16 PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION

to limit the present edition to 1,500 copies, of which I sign each with my own hand, certifying it as containing the best states of the old plates now procurable.¹

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PREFACE TO THE “TRAVELLERS’ EDITION”²

[1879]

THIS volume is the first of a series designed by the Author with the purpose of placing in the hands of the public, in more serviceable form, those portions of his earlier works which he thinks deserving of a permanent place in the system of his general teaching. They were at first intended to be accompanied by photographic reductions of the principal plates in the larger volumes; but this design has been modified by the Author’s increasing desire to gather his past and present writings into a consistent body, illustrated by one series of plates, purchaseable in separate parts, and numbered consecutively.³ The note at page 147⁴ in this volume, (lying by during my illness,) referred to the smaller photographs at that time in preparation: but the extension of the plan will render all directions to the binder unnecessary, except such as the possessor of the book may himself issue. Of other prefactory matter, once intended,-apologetic mostly,-the reader shall be spared the cumber: and a clear prospectus issued by the publisher of the new series of plates, as soon as they are in a state of forwardness.

The second volume of this edition will contain the most useful matter out of the third volume of the old one, closed by its topical index, abridged and corrected.

BRANTWOOD,

3rd May, 1879.

¹ [For the treatment of the plates in the present edition, see Introduction above, p. xlix.]

² [For contents and other particulars of this edition, see above, Bibliographical Note, p. lvi.]

³ [Ruskin prepared one or two plates for this intended series, but nothing came of it.]

⁴ [i. e. page 147 of the first volume of the “Travellers’ Edition.” The note will now be found in Vol. X. ch. iv. § 42.]

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