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Imperial folio (560 x 380 mm) [10], xvi, [1, 1 blank], 44 pp. Subscriber's list, 2 etchings, 57 engraved plates (12 double-page), complete; occasional light foxing. Quarter green cloth over drab boards, modern printed spine label; rebacked. Bookplate and signature of George Aitchison, book-label of A. Russell, Pollock, Greenhill. Fine. RARE. FIRST EDITION. This magnificent architectural folio primarily documents the structure of the New Custom House in Lower Thames Street, begun in 1813. Leading the list of subscribers is King George III, and the work is dedicated to the Prince of Wales (eventually George IV) who undoubtedly had provided royal patronage for this deluxe volume. The text describes the site preparation, including test bores of the soil, to a depth of 30 feet. Initially, the investigation indicated that the site was suitable to support the massive weight of the proposed building. However, when the actual trenching began, it was discovered that the underlying soil was of a quite variable nature and density, having been the result of centuries of variation in the width of the adjacent Thames River. It was decided to insert beech pilings, at three-foot intervals, to support the river front of the building. The pilings eventually decayed, [contributing] to the collapse of that side of the building. The cost overruns in completing the foundation were considerable, and unfortunately insufficient, leading to the eventual collapse, necessitating its rebuilding. The remainder of the book documents the work performed on St. Dunstan's Church, public buildings and a few grand villas of the wealthy. / David Laing is principally known as the architect of the New Custom House in London, which was completed in 1817 and collapsed in 1825. Assisted by a young William Tite, he also rebuilt the church of St Dunstan-in-the-East between 1817 and 1821. In 1818 Laing published this book of plans and drawings which included details of the problems he had encountered in laying the foundations of the New Custom House. The subsidence of those foundations was later to cause the collapse of the building, which had to be rebuilt, under the direction of Sir Robert Smirke. After the collapse of the New Custom House Laing was suspended from his post as Architect & Surveyor of the Board of Customs, and his practice was ruined. PROVENANCE: George Aitchison (1792â "1861) and George Aitchison, Jr. (1825-1910) were both prominent English architects. An expert in interior design, the son's finest work is the house he designed for Frederic, Baron Leighton of Stretton, at Holland Park Road, Kensington, which includes the Arab Hall (added 1877â "9, built to display the collection of glazed tiles Leighton had acquired during his visits to the East) and the artist's studio. Aitchison (junior) enjoyed a considerable reputation, being Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy (1887â "1905) and President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (1896â "9). DNB Vol. XI, pp. 400-1.
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