An History of Richmondshire (1819–23) is the only part to be published of the largest commission ever received by Turner. Originally intended to count 120 drawings for a General History of the County of York by the well-known historian Thomas Dunham Whitaker, it was cut short owing to the death of the author and the spiralling costs. Nevertheless, Turner produced some of his finest work for the project, and the finished engravings demonstrate how his topographical art took landscape painting and illustration to new heights, and guaranteed his popular fame.

All 20 prints are reproduced here, at approximately three-quarters of the size of the originals. This is the first time they have been published together since the 19th century.