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PLAW,, John (c. 1745--1820)
Rural architecture: consisting of designs, from the simple cottage, to the more decorated villa; including some which have been built under the author's direction. By John Plaw, architect and surveyor. ... Part the first; containing thirty copper-plates.
London (Place), etch'd and shaded in aqua-tinta by the author; and published by subscription, at his house,, 1785.
7, [1] p., [30] pl.; 25.2 cm. (4º).

A copy of the rare subscriber's issue of the first part only. In a prefatory note on the verso of the title-leaf, Plaw informs subscribers that "all this Letter-Press will be cancelled, and entire new given with the Second Part". He apologizes for the frontispiece not being ready and has therefore "given two Plates, No. 31, and no. 32, to make up the Number", and promises plates I and XXX with the second part of the work. In the event, the first complete edition containing the two parts was not published until 1790 (ESTC n13112); the promised plate 32 was renumbered 'I' and the frontispiece was unnumbered. Soane was not a subscriber, nor did he ever acquire the complete edition of the book. The Soane copy has manuscript corrections and additions to the note on the title-page verso and the list of contents, probably by Plaw himself, reflecting the numbering of the plates as finally issued in 1790. See notes to BAL, Early printed books, no. 2580 (1790 ed.). ESTC n478354.

Copy Notes Purchased at Christie's Revett sale, 26--27 June 1804 (q.v.), for 4s., lot 44, with Morris's Essay in defence of ancient architecture, 1728 (q.v.), lot 43.

Binding Later C19th half calf, blind-tooled borders, gilt double-rule spine direct-lettered in gilt, marbled-paper boards.

Reference Number 3055

Additional Names Revett, Nicholas (1720--1804) - Library; Christie, James, the younger (1773--1831), auctioneer. [Sale cat. 1804:06:26--27]


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