THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT; OR, A SYSTEM OF ARCHITECTURE, ADAPTED TO THE STYLE OF BUILDING IN THE UNITED STATES

Biddle, Owen

Edité par Benjamin Johnson, Philadelphia, 1805

4to. 64pp, 44 plates [two of them folding]. Bound in lightly rubbed contemporary calf [inner hinges cracked but boards holding firm] and housed in a modern cloth folding case. Light to moderate foxing, light ghosting. Closed tear [no loss] at blank upper margin of plate 35. 1828 and 1901 owner inscriptions on front free endpaper. With a Dictionary of Architectural Terms and a Subscriber list at the end. Good plus. This is the first edition of "the second distinctly American book on architecture, as distinguished from reprints of English works" [Streeter]. Biddle's Preface observes that previously printed architectural books "have been written by foreign authors, who have adapted their examples and observations almost entirely to the style of building in their respective countries, which in many instances differs very materially from ours." "A native born American, like Asher Benjamin [who wrote the first original American architectural book in 1797], Biddle emphasizes in his title that his book is especially suited for American use, and that there is by this time 'a style of building in the United States' distinguishable from that of England. Benjamin imitated this title the next year in that of the first edition of The American builders' companion" [Hitchcock] "Nothing on Architecture has heretofore appeared in this country, where the field for improvement in every useful art and science is, perhaps, more extensive than in any other" [Rink]. Streeter Sale 4174. Rink 1768; Hitchcock, American Architectural Books 176. N° de réf. du vendeur 41513

Détails bibliographiques

Titre : THE YOUNG CARPENTER'S ASSISTANT; OR, A ...
Éditeur : Benjamin Johnson, Philadelphia
Date d'édition : 1805