Kirby's Subscribers

Three of Kirby's books have lists of subscribers that provide important information on how Kirby's network of supporters changed over time.

The first was An Historical Account of the Twelve Prints of Monasteries, Castles, antient churches, and Monuments, in the County of Suffolk of 1748.

While the Twelve Prints and accompanying text were successful, the subscriber list was largely drawn from Suffolk clergy, gentry, local politicians, and attorneys.

The second list was in the first edition of Brook Taylor's Method of Perspective Made Easy from 1754, the book that made his name.

The list of subscribers in this book had a much more London flavour than that of the Twelve Prints, and included many London artists.

The third volume is the second edition of Brook Taylor's Method of Perspective Made Easy, rushed out shortly after the first.

This new edition had a substantially extended and more illustrious subscriber list.

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