CAMPBELL VITRUVIUS BRITANNICUS 7 VOLS 1715-1808 PLATES

Vitruvius Britannicus or the British Architect - Five Volumes ; The New Vitruvius Britannicus - Two Volumes

Campbell, Colen ; Woolfe and Gandon ; Richardson, George

A superb full set of the Vitruvius Britannicus, perhaps the greatest English architectural plate book ever published. This set includes the rare two volumes of the New Vitruvius Britannicus. Internally very tidy. The seven volumes are bound in uniform half dark brown calf. The first three volumes retain their original elaborate speckled and panelled calf boards with a large gilt armorial to the front board (as yet we have been unable to trace this coat of arms). These three volumes have also had the corners refurbished. The other four volumes are completely rebound with new green cloth boards. Raised and gilded bands to spines. Gilt spine titles on red and green morocco spine labels. Vitruvius Britannicus or The British Architect -  Vol I - 1715. Engraved title and engraved dedication leaf, 10 pages of text, 98 further plates, making a total of 100. Two plates trimmed by about 1/4 inch along the fore edge. A few plates a little toned to a light cream. Half a dozen plates with minor waterstain to extreme corner, well away from platemark. Three plates with very small marginal repairs to short closed tears. Last plate with 2 inch repair to central crease from top of page, not impinging within platemark. Vol II - 1717. Engraved title, 8 pages text, 99 further plates, making a total of 100. Plates 61-62 split along gutter and repaired to verso. A few plates a bit toned to a milky tea colour. A handful with a minor waterstain to the extreme corner, but not affecting the image. Vol III - Printed title, 7-12, 3-6 pages (all there but just misbound), 99 further plates plus an extra plate 101, not called for (but with some minor closed tears and soiling to the folded top edge. A handful of plates with some very minor waterstaining to the extreme fore margin. Vol IV - 1767. engraved title, engraved dedication leaf, 12 pages text, 98 further plates (giving a total of 100). Both Fowler and Millard record the third volume as having a printed title and dedication instead of the engraved title and dedication listed in the plate list. Furthermore Millard records that the plate 101 of Umberslade, originally loosely inserted in this volume, is not called for in the first edition, but is then called for in the 1731(?) second edition. This is the First Edition of Vol III with a plate of Umberslade added at a later date. Couple of text leaves a tiny bit trimmed on the fore edge margin. Couple of plates a little close to the edge, and occasionally trimmed to the plate mark on left and right of a couple of the largest double page examples. Vol V - 1771. Engraved title page, engraved dedication leaf, 10 pages of text, and 98 further plates (giving a total of 100). Some offsetting affecting the double page plates where it has offset on the other half of the plate. However as most are symmentrical this is not that noticeable. The New Vitruvius Britannicus - Two volumes. 1802 and 1808. Parallel text in French and English. (4), 72 plates (including 9 double page plates which are counted as two each), (20) pages acompanying text; (4), 70 plates (including 17 double page), 10 pages accompanying text. Some minor marginal foxing, occasionally affecting the gutter of the double page plates. Some toning to the extreme margins, but otherwise very tidy with no staining, tears, loss, etc. A rare opportunity to get the complete seven volume set of this grand work.

ONE OF SEVERAL RARE AND ANTIQUARIAN BOOKS WE HAVE FOR SALE TODAY.

Buy with confidence

I am a member of the PBFA (Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association) and operate according to its professional code of conduct which includes a full refund if items are mis-described. For more details go to www.pbfa.org 

PLEASE EMAIL FOR SHIPPING TO INDIVIDUAL LOCATIONS. AS A ROUGH GUIDE POSTAGE WITHIN THE UK WILL BE AROUND £50-£100 AS IT WILL HAVE TO BE SENT IN A WOODEN CRATE. US POSTAGE WOULD BE £250-£500.