THE CITY AND COUNTRY PURCHASER

NEVE, Richard.  THE CITY AND COUNTRY PURCHASER, AND BUILDER'S DICTIONARY: OR, THE COMPLEAT BUILDERS GUIDE.                                                                         

London: B. Sprint, and others, 1736. 8vo. Contemporary full-calf. (Engraved frontispiece, xvi + 188 leaves). Third edition. [Harris, 597].

First published in 1703, Neve's dictionary was, to quote Eileen Harris, "an entirely new type of architectural book."  The third edition is the first to have the engraved frontispiece of the Earl of Burlington's House in Chiswick, and contains two thousand seven hundred new articles.  It was written in response to a two volume Builder's Dictionary published in 1734.  Schimmelman recorded copies of this title at Yale, the Logan Library, the Library Company of Philadelphia, and other American locations.  Copies were also advertised in Williamsburg in 1764.  Technical dictionaries like this are of interest because most dictionaries, including the OED, frequently omit or ignore the use of technical terms.  Contemporary ink signature on title page.  Small early ink stain on frontispiece plate.  Professionally rebacked, but essentially very good copy of an important and scarce book.

 

$1,650.00