Lot 229: ENGLEFIELD, Sir Henry (1752-1822), and others. Plans, Elevations, Sections and Specimens of the Architecture and Ornaments of ... St. Stephens Chapel Westminster. - ...Cathedral Church at Exeter. - ...Abbey church of Bath . - ...Cathedral Church

ENGLEFIELD, Sir Henry (1752-1822), and others. Plans, Elevations, Sections and Specimens of the Architecture and Ornaments of ... St. Stephens Chapel Westminster. - ...Cathedral Church at Exeter. -...Abbey church of Bath. -...Cathedral Church at Durham. -...Cathedral church of Gloucester. -...Abbey Church at St. Albans. [London: W. Bulmer (Nicholas, Son & Bentley, part 6) for the Society of Antiquaries, 1795]-1813.

6 volumes in one, broadsheet 2° (642 x 475mm). 28; 11; 10; 11; 17; 19 plates, many double-page or folding by James II Basire after John Carter and others, wood-engraved illus. on p. 11 of part I dated 1811. (Variable spotting, heavier in about 10.) 19th-century half russia gilt, marbled edges (lightly rubbed).

COMPLETE SET of the Society of Antiquaries' ambitious programme documenting English cathedrals. The churches were chosen as the best examples of their kind or those with no good extant account. The publication of the first 14 plates and accompanying text of St. Stephen's launched the series in 1795. In 1811 additional plates and text to the first volume were published, and the whole re-issued. Dated watermarks in the present set indicate that it consists of original parts. NO COMPLETE SET HAS APPEARED AT AUCTION IN OVER 30 YEARS. RIBA 3106-3111 (citing Weinreb 31:507 describing pt. I with a [?unique] title-page naming Bulmer as printer); Upcott, pp. 871, 162, 1156, 210, 265, 340.

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