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A book of architecture, containing designs of buildings and ornaments. By James Gibbs.
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GIBBS, James (1682--1754)
A book of architecture, containing designs of buildings and ornaments. By James Gibbs.
London (Place), printed 1728.
[4], xxviii p., 150 pl. ; 51.6 cm. (2º)
This was the first book published by a British architect to be entirely devoted to his own designs, evidently prompted by the omission of any of his work from Colen Campbell's Vitruvius Britannicus (1731 ed., q.v.), the third volume of which was originally published in 1725, and by the forthcoming publication of William Kent's edition for Lord Burlington of The designs of Inigo Jones which appeared in 1727 (q.v.). Gibbs issued proposals on 15 March 1727 for 140 plates accompanied by descriptions, to which 10 further plates were added at no extra cost; subscriptions of 4 guineas a copy were taken by W. Strachan; J. Woodman and D. Lyon; N. Prevost; J. Stagg; and Joseph Smith. Intended as a pattern book for gentlemen, the work was outside the financial reach of ordinary builders but had an enormous and long-lasting influence across the English-speaking world from the Caribbean to India and South Africa, and was a source among others for the President's House (later White House) in Washington and for Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. With a list of subscribers (pp. xxvi--xxviii). ESTC t22978; Harris and Savage, 257; BAL, Early printed books, no. 1206; Millard II, 22; Fowler 138.
Copy Notes The plates are misbound with the sequences 2--11, 21--24, 32--36, 40--42, 46--48, 55--58, 63--66, 71--76, 86--92, 113--121, and 136--150 bound in reverse order, facing verso.
Binding C18th blind-panelled sprinkled calf, gilt triple fillet borders, C20th spine with maroon morocco spine-label, fragments of original red morocco spine-label laid down inside front cover.
Reference Number 2338
A book of architecture, containing designs of buildings and ornaments. By James Gibbs.
London (Place), printed 1728.
[4], xxviii p., 150 pl. ; 51.6 cm. (2º)
This was the first book published by a British architect to be entirely devoted to his own designs, evidently prompted by the omission of any of his work from Colen Campbell's Vitruvius Britannicus (1731 ed., q.v.), the third volume of which was originally published in 1725, and by the forthcoming publication of William Kent's edition for Lord Burlington of The designs of Inigo Jones which appeared in 1727 (q.v.). Gibbs issued proposals on 15 March 1727 for 140 plates accompanied by descriptions, to which 10 further plates were added at no extra cost; subscriptions of 4 guineas a copy were taken by W. Strachan; J. Woodman and D. Lyon; N. Prevost; J. Stagg; and Joseph Smith. Intended as a pattern book for gentlemen, the work was outside the financial reach of ordinary builders but had an enormous and long-lasting influence across the English-speaking world from the Caribbean to India and South Africa, and was a source among others for the President's House (later White House) in Washington and for Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. With a list of subscribers (pp. xxvi--xxviii). ESTC t22978; Harris and Savage, 257; BAL, Early printed books, no. 1206; Millard II, 22; Fowler 138.
Copy Notes The plates are misbound with the sequences 2--11, 21--24, 32--36, 40--42, 46--48, 55--58, 63--66, 71--76, 86--92, 113--121, and 136--150 bound in reverse order, facing verso.
Binding C18th blind-panelled sprinkled calf, gilt triple fillet borders, C20th spine with maroon morocco spine-label, fragments of original red morocco spine-label laid down inside front cover.
Reference Number 2338