Views of Ports and Harbours

William Finden and his younger brother, Edward, were renowned English engravers. Their smooth, neat style proved popular and soon the brothers engaged several assistants to publish volumes of engraved plates depicting aspects of English society. Views of Ports and Harbours is one such volume. As the preface describes, this work is comprised of views of most of the principal ports, naval stations, watering places, and fishing-towns on the English coast from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Plymouth. The chief objective was to give a faithful view of the place, but, as the English coast abounds in picturesque beauty, the views are, by nature, beautiful. The Cooper Hewitt Library has an extensive collection of travel books, many given by the Hewitt sisters and gathered through their far-flung travels. This particular book, however, was presented to the library by Mrs. R.H. Gallatin, a New York socialite, in 1910. This volume, with its series of engraved plates, is especially important to the Drawing and Prints department of the Cooper Hewitt.