Engraving of Moss Dale, Yorkshire. This bound volume of 'picturesque' scenes was brought together by engraver Letitia Byrne and publisher Thomas Palser. This type of publication was relatively popular in the early 19th century, bringing together different scenes, all deemed to fulfil the criteria of this new type classification of landscape called 'picturesque' from around the world.

This compliation of pictureque scenes includes for each picture some background, generally a history of the site so as to help the reader better aprpeciate the scene. This type of publication was designed to be read together, perhaps as part of an education, perhaps as educational recreation. The date suggests this belonged to either the Herschels when John FW Herschel was still at school, or perhaps more likely, to the Stewart family, the family of Margaret Brodie Stewart whom John FW later married.

The accompanying text for this engraving reads: 'Moss Dale is one of the smaller vallies opening into Wensleydale near the western extremity thereof; it may be useful to the tourist in search of picturesque scenery, to observe that the vallies on each side of Wensleydale furnish much more than the dale itself; this circumstance being not generally known, the most beautiful parts of the neighbourhood have been little explored. The sketch for the Drawing from which this Etching was done, was made in the year 1798, since that time the scene has been much injured, particularly by the rubbish thrown from a mine near the summit of the hill.'