MORRIS, Robert (ca. 1702-1754). An Essay in defence of Ancient Architecture; or, a parallel of the ancient buildings with the modern. London: D.Browne, W.Bickerton, etc., 1728.

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MORRIS, Robert (ca. 1702-1754). An Essay in defence of Ancient Architecture; or, a parallel of the ancient buildings with the modern. London: D.Browne, W.Bickerton, etc., 1728.

4° (285 x 220mm). Engraved emblematic frontispiece by J.Carwitham, 14 plates (7 by Morris, the others unsigned), one engraved table. Contemporary speckled calf gilt, spine in seven compartments, red morocco lettering-piece in the second, the bottom compartment with onlaid red morocco lozenge gilt-tooled with elephant crest (upper joint a trifle weak). Provenance: Sir Andrew Fountaine (binding).

A FINE, LARGE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION by the 'outstanding theoretical writer [on architecture] of the first half of the eighteenth century' (Harris p.317). This may well be a presentation copy: Sir Andrew Fountaine, Lord Burlington and Lord Herbert are mentioned by the author as being the 'principal Practitioners and Preservers' of 'true Architecture' (p.xiii of the preface). Harris 568.

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