Beschreibung:

Collection of drawings, manuscripts and engravings assembled by publisher and antiquarian John Britton (1771-1857), relating to the architecture and restoration of Rosslyn Chapel, Midlothian, held in an album, comprising: i) Three pen and ink architectural drawings drawn, annotated and numbered by artist David Roberts namely "Section of the Chancel...", "Ground Plan of the Chancel...", "Termination of the ground arch in the South aisle of Roslin Chapel", demonstrating, according to the covering letter "...reasons by which I came to the conclusion that the East Wall was removed at least two feet outwards...", black ink on pale blue laid paper with additions in red ink, all 230 x 180mm., [1846]; twelve drawings by architect Joseph Gandy depicting scaled ground plans, profiles and architectural details for inclusion in Britton's Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain, some annotated in pencil with notes and measurements, pencil and ink, 315 x 245mm. and smaller; one pull-out sectional drawing by Britton's assistant John R. Thompson overlaid with the 'golden ratio' in red ink, signed and dated "Edinburgh 1840", pen and wash, 360 x 428mm.; ii) Group of some thirteen autograph letters to John Britton; one from Joseph Gandy regarding the shields along the south cornice and enclosing some drawings ("...the whole place is highly picturesque, and had fate made me a painter only you would have seen many fine views of this delightful and interesting dell..."); five from David Roberts commenting on the restoration and his dispute with William Burn whom he accuses of "...destroying the whole proportions of this exquisite bijou...", discussing the burial vault and asking for information from Britton on "...the Temple of Obsimbal [sic]... I have a great wish to have engraved in my forthcoming work..."; other correspondence from George Meikle Kemp (3 page letter including a measured profile drawing), William Burn ("...the old story of the Belted Knights being interred within armour in a vault beneath the chapel is equally absurd, as there is no vault..."), David Laing Keeper of the Signet Library and David Irving, Keeper of the Advocates Library, c.30 pages, folio and smaller, [various places], 1806 to 1846; iii) John Britton's lecture notes and research material (including some notes "...Communicated by Walter Scott .."), and miscellaneous prints and engravings including nine leaves from Britton's Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain bound in, c.20 album leaves with material stuck or tipped in, additional leaves bound in, bookplate of the Hon. Sir Hew Dalrymple, fragment of old catalogue description attached to front inside board, calf, worn and rubbed, pages frayed, some dust-staining, binding loose, title in gilt on spine label (detached), folio (387 x 260mm.), 1806 to 1846