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You are here: CollectionsOnline  /  Original designs in architecture: consisting of plans, elevations, and sections, for villas, mansions, town-houses, &c. and a new design for a theatre. With descriptions, and explanations of the plates, and an introduction to the work. By James Lewis. Book I. = Disegni originali di architettura: consistenti in piante, elevazioni, e spaccati di varie case di campagna, e di città; con un progetto di un teatro. ... ([Vol. II] Original designs in architecture; consisting of plans, elevations, and sections of various publick and private buildings: executed, or ... By James Lewis, architect. Book II.)
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LEWIS, James (1751--1820)
Original designs in architecture: consisting of plans, elevations, and sections, for villas, mansions, town-houses, &c. and a new design for a theatre. With descriptions, and explanations of the plates, and an introduction to the work. By James Lewis. Book I. = Disegni originali di architettura: consistenti in piante, elevazioni, e spaccati di varie case di campagna, e di città; con un progetto di un teatro. ... ([Vol. II] Original designs in architecture; consisting of plans, elevations, and sections of various publick and private buildings: executed, or ... By James Lewis, architect. Book II.)
London (Place), printed for the author,, 1780--1797.
2 vols ; 52.8 cm. (2º)
I: [2], ii, 13, [1] p., XXII pl.
II: [4], 14 p., XLI pl. (1 fold.)

Imprint of vol. II reads: London: printed for the author by Cooper and Graham, 1797. Book I only has parallel title in Italian and parallel Italian text. Plates engraved by Tobias Miller and James Roberts, those in vol. I dated 1779, those in vol. II dated 1796. The plates in vol. II are numbered I--XII, XII*, XIII--XXXIX, and a final double plate bearing two numbers XL and XLI. With lists of subscribers in each volume, including several Irish names, and Soane's name in that to vol. II. A second edition of the first volume was also published in 1797. The author, James Lewis, was with Soane and others a founder member of the Architects' Club (q.v.); he and George Dance - but not Soane - were approached in 1800 to provide plans for new headquarters for the Royal College of Surgeons opposite Soane's house at Lincoln's Inn Fields (see Darley, Soane, pp. 211-212). BAL, Early printed books, no. 1885; Harris and Savage, 494; ESTC t90188 (vol. I), ESTC t139563 (vol. II).

Copy Notes Copy 1: The two volumes bound in one. Book II, to which Soane was a subscriber, is inscribed by him in pencil with interesting and fairly lengthy marginal comments upon Lewis's preface (pp. i, iii) and critical comments upon plates IX and XXXIV. Soane's annotations partly curtailed by the trimming of the pages when rebound.
Copy 2: 53.9 cm. Book II only. Inscribed in ink on title page G. Osborn, i.e. General Sir George Osborn, Bt. of Cricklands Priory, Beds. who was a subscriber.

Binding Copy 1: C19th half russia calf, blind roll-tooled borders, marbled paper boards, gilt double-ruled and blind roll-tooled spine, black spine-label.
Copy 2: Late C18th half calf, marbled-paper boards, gilt double-ruled spine, red morocco spine-label.

Reference Number 1453

Additional Names Osborn, Sir George; Disegni originali di architettura


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