The DNB describes the author as a practising architect whose works are unknown; he is not listed in Colvin. Originally intended to be issued in in 2 parts consisting of forty plates, but due to the cost of the publication not having been properly calculated the present “first part”, issued in four numbers of five plates each, was all that ever appeared. The copies subscribed for numbered 170, of which thirty-five were with plates in india-paper proof, and some sixty-five were to be issued in quarto format, as the present copy (the remainder of the edition was to be octavo); it is not necessarily the case that all these copies were distributed, and the book is certainly rare, especially large paper copies.
Provenance: Neat contemporary ink ownership stamp with crest of F. W.Campbell of Birkfield, Ipswich to front free endpaper (repeated on upper cover with signature), later bookplate of James Mason Martin: from the library of Josceline Grove, with bookplate and their typed catalogue description pasted to front endpapers.