Beschreibung:

CAMPBELL, Colin (fl. 1715-1729). Vitruvius Britannicus or The British Architect . London: 1717-1731. Volumes I-III only, 2° (vols I-II 497 x 348mm; vol. III 462 x 295mm). Vols I-II with engraved titles in state C (vol. I with first numerals of 'II' erased, indicating 1717 issue), engraved dedication to vol. I, 159 etched and engraved architectural plates (plate 32 in vol. II appearing twice), 31 of which double-page (some folding), numbered 1-100 in each volume, all in 1717 states; vol. III with title printed in red and black, text in English and French, 73 etched and engraved plates numbered 3-100, 21 of which double-page. (Vol. I: occasional very light browning; Vol. II: occasional very minor marginal worming, a couple of double-page folding plates with edges lightly creased, very light crease to last double-page plate, light variable browning; vol. III: minor marginal worming, plates 31 and 32 with light spotting, double-page plate 91-92 torn along vertical fold without loss, dampstaining to endpapers extending through title, text leaves and into first couple of plates, also affecting last 7 plates.) Contemporary calf (worn, front covers detached). Provenance : Georg Steinmetz (20th-century ink stamp to pastedowns) -- Wasmuth Antiquariat (Berlin bookseller's ticket to vol. I). FIRST EDITIONS of vols I-II, 'arguably the most influential and original British architectural book ever published' (RIBA). This was partly owing to the conscious decision to exclude the pretty views to be found in prospect books such as Kip's Britannia Illustrata , and rely on the effectiveness of purely scientific representations. Although the text and plate list in vol. III calls for plate 101 and Harris also listing 101 plates, this was not issued in this 1731 edition (cf. RIBA 3547). Fowler 76 (vols. I-II); Harris 97 (vols I-II), 102 (vol. III); RIBA 3544 (vols I-II), 3546 (vol. III, 1725 edition). (3)
CAMPBELL, Colin (fl. 1715-1729). Vitruvius Britannicus or The British Architect . London: 1717-1731. Volumes I-III only, 2° (vols I-II 497 x 348mm; vol. III 462 x 295mm). Vols I-II with engraved titles in state C (vol. I with first numerals of 'II' erased, indicating 1717 issue), engraved dedication to vol. I, 159 etched and engraved architectural plates (plate 32 in vol. II appearing twice), 31 of which double-page (some folding), numbered 1-100 in each volume, all in 1717 states; vol. III with title printed in red and black, text in English and French, 73 etched and engraved plates numbered 3-100, 21 of which double-page. (Vol. I: occasional very light browning; Vol. II: occasional very minor marginal worming, a couple of double-page folding plates with edges lightly creased, very light crease to last double-page plate, light variable browning; vol. III: minor marginal worming, plates 31 and 32 with light spotting, double-page plate 91-92 torn along vertical fold without loss, dampstaining to endpapers extending through title, text leaves and into first couple of plates, also affecting last 7 plates.) Contemporary calf (worn, front covers detached). Provenance : Georg Steinmetz (20th-century ink stamp to pastedowns) -- Wasmuth Antiquariat (Berlin bookseller's ticket to vol. I). FIRST EDITIONS of vols I-II, 'arguably the most influential and original British architectural book ever published' (RIBA). This was partly owing to the conscious decision to exclude the pretty views to be found in prospect books such as Kip's Britannia Illustrata , and rely on the effectiveness of purely scientific representations. Although the text and plate list in vol. III calls for plate 101 and Harris also listing 101 plates, this was not issued in this 1731 edition (cf. RIBA 3547). Fowler 76 (vols. I-II); Harris 97 (vols I-II), 102 (vol. III); RIBA 3544 (vols I-II), 3546 (vol. III, 1725 edition). (3)