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WOOD, Robert (1717--1771)
The ruins of Palmyra, otherwise Tedmor, in the desart.
London (Place), 1753.
[6], 50 p., LVII [i.e. 59] pl. : [3] full p. engr. inscriptions ; 57.4 cm. (2°)

Preface to the reader signed: Robert Wood. The plates were drawn by G. B. Borra and engraved by P. Fourdrinier, T. Major, J.S. Müller and T.M. Müller, jun. Based on an expedition to Palymra and Baalbek in 1750--51 with James Dawkins, John Bouverie, Giovanni Battista Borra as architectural draughtsman and Wood as historian, and the first publication proposals are dated January 1752 when copies were offered to subscribers at 3 guineas each. The work was published by September 1753; probably around the same time the work was also issued with the letterpress in French (q.v.). The novelty and exoticism of the material as well as the scientific value and beauty of the book ensured its critical and popular success. Plate I is composed of 3 plates which were intended to be joined; in both Soane copies as in most copies they are separate. The text exists in two states, one having four lines of errata on p. 50 beginning 'Page 7.l.28. for Herencanius, read Herenianus' (ESTC t137525), the other having three lines of errata beginning 'Page 9.l.26 for emperor's, read emperors' (ESTC t137526). Both Soane copies are in the first state. ESTC t137525; Harris and Savage 939; Millard II, 92; BAL, Early printed books, no. 3707; Fowler 443.

Copy Notes One copy was bought from Thomas Boone for £2 2s. on 5 February 1808. (Spiers Box).
Copy 1: Pages [25]--30 are irregularly bound so that the inscription should appear opposite the text. Marginal notes in pencil in Soane's hand, mainly providing captions and legends on plates.
Copy 2: 53.0 cm. Bound (1) with copy 2 of Ruins of Balbec, 1757 (q.v.).

Binding Copy 1: C18th quarter mottled calf, sheep corners, marbled-paper boards, red morocco spine-label.
Copy 2: C19th diced russia calf, blind-tooled within gilt double-rule borders, gilt double-ruled and blind-tooled spine, direct-lettered in gilt. Bound by Edwin Hutchinson for £2 plus 2s. for cleaning, 28 February 1832. (Archives 7/16/29).

Reference Number 3629

Additional Names Thomas Boone; Hutchinson, Edwin; Borra, Giovanni Battista (1712--1786); Major, Thomas (1720--1799); Fourdrinier, Paul (c.$1720--1760)


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