Bosse, Abraham (1602--1676)
[Représentations géométrales. 170-?]
Representations geometrales de plusieurs parties de bastiments faites par les reigles de l'architectvre antiqve et de qui les mesures sont reduittes en piedz poulces & lignes, afin de saccommoder a la maniere de mesurer la plus en vzage parmy le commun des ouuriers. Par A. Bosse. ...
A Paris (Place), [deletion],, 1688 [i.e. c. 1700].
Engr. t.-pl., II, 20 pl. ; 38.9 cm. (2°)

This work was first issued 'Chez l'Autheur' in 1659, apparently containing text plates I--II and pl. 1--10 [+1 unnumbered] relating to doorways and pediments (see Fowler 63, copy A). Subsequently plates 12--14 were added, the original imprint erased from the title-plate, and the latter's date altered from 'M DC LIX', first to read 'M DC LXXXIIII' (Fowler 64, copy B), and then (as here) 'M DC LXXXVIII'. The text plates I--II were originally dated 1659 and 1660 but are undated here. The present copy probably represents an issue by Jean I Jombert (fl. 1684?--1713?) of c. 1700 alongside the copies of Bosse's Traité des manieres de dessiner les ordres (q.v.) and Des ordres de colonnes en l'architecture (q.v.), with which it is as usual bound. By now the work includes six further plates of unsigned and uncaptioned chimney-piece designs numbered 15--20 top right in continuation of the earlier numeration. These designs (possibly not by Bosse) were probably first added in the Aubouin, Emery & Clousier edition of 1688 (cf. Fowler 64, copy B and BAL, Early printed books, no. 340). A later issue in the Soane Museum dates probably to the 1720s (q.v.). See also Millard I, pp. 78-81.

Copy Notes Bound (3) with Bosse's Traité (q.v.) and Des ordres de colonnes (q.v.). With the title-plate misbound between pl. S and T of the associated copy of Des ordres, which also has text plate II and pl. 1 from the present work wrongly placed after pl. A. Plates 11 and 12 are bound in reverse order. Inserted at the end of this copy are four extraneous etched plates by Bosse as follows:
[1] one unnumbered, uncaptioned plate signed 'A Bosse fe.' showing a design for a carved and painted panel (printed from two coppers each measuring 35.0 x 9.3 cm) featuring allegorical female figures identified in draperies beneath as 'Ivstice', 'Force', Prvdence' and 'Temperance';
[2] an unnumbered, folded plate (pl/m: 25.0 x 32.6 cm) with 4-line caption beginning 'Voicy la representation d'un Sculpteur dans son Atelier ...', and Bosse's imprint 'a Paris en Lisle du palis, lan 1642, auec Priuilege' (the latter partially cropped in this copy);
[3] an unnumbered, folded plate (pl/m: 25.0 x 32.7 cm) with 9-line caption beginning 'Graueurs en taille douce au Burin et a Leaue forte ...', and Bosse's imprint dated 1642 as above (likewise partially cropped in this copy);
[4] an unnumbered, folded plate (pl/m: 25.0 x 32.6 cm) with 4-line caption beginning 'Cette figure vous montre Comme on Imprime les planches de taille douce, ...' and intact imprint reading 'faict a leau forte par ABosse a Paris en Lislle du palais lan 1642, auec priuilege'.

Binding C17th sprinkled calf, blind-tooled borders, gilt-tooled spine, red morocco spine-label.

Reference Number 1744