A BOOK OF CEILINGS COMPOSED IN THE STYLE OF THE ANTIQUE, GROTESQUE Designed and etched by George Richardson, Architect
Book Description
Text in English and French in double columns, subscribers list, pages uncut. 49 full wash colour plates. Some copies note an address to the public not bound in this copy. Signatures and measurements do not appear in all copies.
Later spine over the original boards. A very good copy of the coloured edition
SUBSCRIBER'S COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION. The work was evidently originally issued in parts in three forms: uncoloured, with 'coloured grounds' (as the present copy ?) and 'coloured and touched up in the Manner of finished Drawings' (Harris pp.388-9, quoting the Public Advertiser, 4 Aug. 1774). Copies of the work 'on imperial paper... in boards' were still available in 1792 when an advertisement appeared in Richardson's New Designs., the three forms were then priced at 3 guineas, £6/8s, and 48 guineas respectively. Richardson trained under the Adam brothers (John Adam is listed amongst the subscribers) but left about 1773 in the vain hope of setting up his own architectural practice. Ironically, the wide circulation of his various works was probably the single greatest contributing factor to his lack of success as a practising architect. Abbey Life 56; Harris 735.
Dealer Notes
Plates ABBEY
22 x 15 ¾ inches 20 13/16 x 14.1/2 inches
Title as Abbey *
Subscribers 2 Preface 2 -10pp + 1 verso blank no subtitle *
Plate I – 6 signed printed plate number, upper right manuscript number Margin manuscript measurement number. Plate 7 signed printed plate number no top manuscript number
Abbey plate 1 to 6 unnumbered unsigned with manuscript measurement numbers
Plate 8 to 11 signed manuscript plate number and manuscript measurement numbers
Plate 12 unsigned no number
Abbey 7 to 12 numbered at top in manuscript and signed measurements in manuscript
Plate 13 to 42 signed some signatures printed, printed plate number manuscript measurement numbers Plate 43 to 48 printed imprint at bottom As The Acts Directs 1776 Plate 49 double page with added date of 29th June
As Abbey
22 x 15 ¾ inches 20 13/16 x 14.1/2 inches
Title as Abbey *
Subscribers 2 Preface 2 -10pp + 1 verso blank no subtitle *
Plate I – 6 signed printed plate number, upper right manuscript number Margin manuscript measurement number. Plate 7 signed printed plate number no top manuscript number
Abbey plate 1 to 6 unnumbered unsigned with manuscript measurement numbers
Plate 8 to 11 signed manuscript plate number and manuscript measurement numbers
Plate 12 unsigned no number
Abbey 7 to 12 numbered at top in manuscript and signed measurements in manuscript
Plate 13 to 42 signed some signatures printed, printed plate number manuscript measurement numbers Plate 43 to 48 printed imprint at bottom As The Acts Directs 1776 Plate 49 double page with added date of 29th June
As Abbey
Author
RICHARDSON GEORGE
Date
1776
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