ceased in 1819. Out of the hundred drawings only seventy-one plates were published. It stands as a monument in black and white to his great genius, but being executed in mezzotint nothing other than passing allusion to it must find a place in this chapter. Similarly the "Ports of England," published in 1826, and the "Rivers of England," published in 1825-1826, both series being engraved in mezzotint, must be excluded from this chapter.
Both before and after the Liber (1808-1819) there are line engravings executed from drawings by Turner which should appeal with especial favour to all lovers of Turner who cannot aspire to collecting the much sought-after prints of the Liber. The collecting of the separate prints of this latter is a special and absorbing branch of print collecting, and men have devoted their lives to this one study. "Engraver's Proofs" and "First States" and even up to "Fifth States" have to be studied with discriminating judgment. A fine early proof of Solway Moss from the Liber cannot be bought for less than £50, an indifferent print of a second or third state is worth £7; Hind Head Hill in first state is worth £20, in second state £3,—and so on. Obviously this is not the field for the young collector, and it is not within the scope of this volume. Whatever can be said—and much may be said as to the value of early states in mezzotints, owing to the evanescent quality of the work—this zealousness need not apply in so great a degree to the line engravings after Turner where signs of wear are not so evident.
