Influential Treatise On English Architecture

ADAM, Robert and James.  THE WORKS IN ARCHITECTURE.  Ten parts, two volumes, bound in one.

London: The Authors, 1773-1779. Atlas folios (665 x 497 mm). Later full-morocco in Robert Adam's neo-classic style, with an interlocking palmette border, six raised bands on the spine, and heavily gilt compartments. 80 plates. First edition, second state. [Millard, British, 2; Harris, 5].

The Works in Architecture is one of the truly magnificent books on eighteenth century English architecture.  In it, the Adam brothers showed "the novelty and variety" of their designs, which defined the Adam style and the era.  Many plates are incredibly selective, focusing on partial designs and allowing the viewer to provide the missing elements with imagination.  In America, the first recorded copy of Adam's Works was in the Library Company of Philadelphia's 1775 catalogue.  Later, the Boston bookseller, Benjamin Guild, offered a set of the two volumes for sale, most probably in 1787.  Ours is an exceptionally nice copy, bound from the original parts, with all eighty magnificent plates by Piranesi, Bartolozzi, Zucchi, Cunego, and others.  The type for Volume II was reset for the second issue with the title pages of the parts dated "1786."  There is an early repair to Folio Two of Volume I, Part 4; a long repaired tear through the title leaf of Volume II, Part 1; and some minor soiling throughout.  In general, the plates are dark, rich impressions, printed on thick paper.  Complete copies are very uncommon in commerce as print dealers prized the plates since their publication.  Most surviving copies are additionally soiled and broken, making this copy all the more remarkable.

$95,000.00