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Summary
Author: Architectural Publication Society
Title: The dictionary of architecture (with : Detached essays and illustrations issued during the tears 1848-1849, 1849-1850, 1850-1851, 1851-1852).
Publication: London, 1853-92 (and 1853).
Price: Sold
Reference: 11369
Full Description
Folio. 8 vols, with accompanying vol of Detached Essays. (2) + 2 + 137 + (1) + 170pp ; (2) + 2 + 181 + (1) + 88pp ; (2) + 2 + 70 + 105 + (1) + 114pp (one leaf loosely inserted) ; (2) + 2 + 112 + 67+ (1) + 32 + 35 + (1)pp ; (2) + 2 + 161 + (1) + 153 + (1)pp ; (2) + 2 + 48 + 63 + (1) + 194 + 6pp ; (2) + 2 + 86 + 178pp ; (2) + 2 + 3 + (1) + 110 + 10 + 62 + 12 + 84 + 2 + 8 + 12 + (2) + 8 + 34pp ; (Detached Essays) 6 + 18 + 12 + 6 + 18 + 6 + 6 + 8 + 2 + 3 + (1) + 8 + 20 + 4 + 30 + 4 + 2 + 9 + (1) + 12 + 6 + (2) + 2pp. The volumes contain in all (263) litho plates, of which 34 coloured. Vol.8 has additionally bound in subscribers’ lists for 1852, 1853, 1854-6, 1877, 1887 and 1892, each of 4 pp, and the volume of Detached Essays contains (36) further pp of subscribers’ lists and a duplicate copy of the 34pp index of terms which is also bound in at the end of vol.8. The Dictionary volumes are uniformly bound in early twentieth century cloth, rebacked later in the twentieth century reusing the existing spines. The Detached Essays volume is bound in nineteenth century boards, rebacked to match the Dictionary volumes. No ownership inscription but Sir Howard Colvin’s copy (see note above).
The largest and most authoritative architectural dictionary of the nineteenth century, providing equally extensive coverage of the theoretical, technical and historical aspects of the subject, as well as biographical notices of most prominent architects from the earliest times to the 1880s. Although the dictionary’s entries are fullest on English architecture and architects, its treatment of European architecture and architects is generous and supported by extensive bibliographical references, and it does not neglect the architecture of Asia and North America. The principal credit for this heroic undertaking belongs to the British architect Wyatt Papworth (1822-1894), who was the leading figure in the Architectural Publication Society from its foundation in May 1848 until the completion of the Dictionary in April 1892, and who was the first person to collect in any organised manner the factual information on which the history of British architecture since 1500 has to depend. Other leading contributors were his brother J.W.Papworth and the architects Arthur Ashpitel, G.R.Burnell, and J.M.Lockyer.