Beschreibung:

BOFFRAND, Germain (1667-1754). Livre d'Architecture. Paris: Guillaume Cavalier père, 1745. 2°. Parallel titles and text in Latin and French. 69 engraved plates (34 folding, 34 double-page, 1 single-page; numbered 1-12, 12[*], 15-20, 22-33, 33[*], 34-45, 48-59, 59[*], 60-61, 63, 63[*], 66-69 and four unnumbered plates) by Babel, Blondel, Lucas and others. (Without the instructions to the binder leaf, some light browning.) FIRST EDITION, early issue with erratic plate numbering and an additional(?) plate. This issue may not require the instruction to the binder leaf. Cf. Fowler 53 (68 plates); cf. Berlin Kat. 2402 (68 plates). [ Bound with :] G.BOFFRAND. Description de ce qui a été pratiqué pour fondre en bronze d'un seul jet la figure equestre de Louis XIV. Paris: Guillaume Desprez for Guillaume Cavelier père, 1643. 2°. Parallel titles and text in Latin and French. Frontispiece and 19 etched and engraved plates (11 double-page, 2 folding, numbered 2-17, 17[*], 18, 18[*]) by Blondel and Tardieu. (Some light spotting.) FIRST EDITION. 2 works in one volume (430 x 282mm). Contemporary mottled calf gilt (extremities worn, joints split). Provenance : 2nd Marquess of Bute (Luton library armorial bookplate). Fine copies internally of both works. "Boffrand's Livre was begun in 1734; its origins are attached to deliberations of the Académie Royale d'Architecture, in which the author participated. The book was produced to express his own ideas on architecture, as well as to publish his architectural designs... The book stands midway between publications of a single architect's work and the production of a general statement on architectural principles and design" (Millard). The second work "on the monolithic casting of Girardon's equestrian statue of Louis XIV for the Place Vendôme in 1699, celebrates the advanced state of French scientific technology (Millard)". Cf. Millard 30 (the 2 works in one volume, the first work with 68 plates).