THE RUDIMENTS OF ARCHITECHTURE: BEING A TREATISE ON PRACTICAL GEOMETRY, ON GRECIAN AND ROMAN MOULDINGS; SHEWING THE BEST METHOD OF DRAWING THEIR CURVES, WITH REMARKS ON THE EFFECT OF BOTH.SECOND EDITION, ENLARGED WITH A PLAN AND ELEVATIONS OF A CHURCH.

Benjamin, Asher:

Published by Boston: Published by R. P. & C. Williams, 1820.

About this Item

Uncommon second edition of Asher Benjamin's Rudiments of Architecture, with the same pagination as the first edition, but containing three additional plates; the first two being a plan and front elevation of a church, and last being a folding side elevation of the same church. An important American architectural treatise by the man most responsible for disseminating Roman and Greek stylistic details found in New England architecture of the period. Originally issued in 1814 by Benjamin as there was a "want of a treatise on architecture, fully explaining the rudiments of the art, the price of which being so small, as to put it within reach of every apprentice." Benjamin designed the content specifically for the beginning student: "I have endeavored to methodise and explain this work, in such a plain, and easy manner, that the young student may collect from it a general knowledge of architecture." The first edition of Rudiments of Architecture (also published in Boston) followed on the heels of Benjamin's first two books, the rare and highly collected The Country Builder's Assistant (Greenfield, 1805), and The American Builder's Companion (Boston, 1806). The present enlarged second edition of Rudiments of Architecture was issued before Benjamin's two final books, The Practical House Carpenter (Boston, 1830), and the Practice of Architecture (Boston, 1833). The book is beautifully illustrated with geometric engravings as well as ornaments, cornices, orders, and a complete plan and elevation for a church. "[T]here is scarcely a village which in moulding profiles, cornice details, church spire, or farm-house does not reflect [Benjamin's] influence" - DAB. "The career of our first American architectural writer, Asher Benjamin (1773-1845), covered several decades of the early nineteenth century. Both the books he wrote and the buildings he designed had an influence on building in New England that is still visible. He probably will be best remembered for his popularization of the federal style through his early books (and the Greek revival in his later ones)" - Thompson. This copy bears the contemporary ownership inscription of Hugh McGoldrick, dated January 22nd, 1839. An early book on architecture directed toward the beginning student, written by a native-born American, this edition expanded to include additional examples and descriptions. Complete copies are scarce in the market. SHAW & SHOEMAKER 389. HITCHCOCK 144. DAB II, pp.179-80. Neville Thompson, "Tools of Persuasion: The American Architectural Book of the Nineteenth Century" in The American Illustrated Book in the Nineteenth Century (1987), p.142. Original sheep, expertly rebacked in modern calf, spine gilt. Boards rubbed, worn at the edges and corners, new endpapers in addition to the original front and rear endpapers, bookseller's ticket (Wm. Helburn) on rear pastedown. Light scattered foxing, a bit heavier toward the first few and final few leaves. Some offsetting of the plates, a few small ink stains. Contemporary ink ownership signature on original front flyleaf, and in pencil in top margin of titlepage and second rear flyleaf. Very good. In a calf and cloth slipcase, spine gilt.

Seller Inventory # 63305

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE RUDIMENTS OF ARCHITECHTURE: BEING A TREATISE ON PRACTICAL GEOMETRY, ON GRECIAN AND ROMAN MOULDINGS; SHEWING THE BEST METHOD OF DRAWING THEIR CURVES, WITH REMARKS ON THE EFFECT OF BOTH.SECOND EDITION, ENLARGED WITH A PLAN AND ELEVATIONS OF A CHURCH.
• Publisher: Boston: Published by R. P. & C. Williams, 1820.