A.J. DOWNING ‘COUNTRY HOUSES’ ARCHITECTURE 1851

ANDREW JACKSON DOWNING (AMERICAN, 1815�1852)
THE ARCHITECTURE OF COUNTRY HOUSES; INCLUDING DESIGNS FOR COTTAGES, FARM-HOUSES, AND VILLAS, 1851 NEW YORK: D. APPLETON & COMPANY / PHILADELPHIA: GEO. S. APPLETON, MDCCCLI (1851);
EARLY PRINTING (COPYRIGHT 1850), ILLUSTRATED WITH 320 WOOD-ENGRAVED FIGURES, ELEVATIONS, FLOOR PLANS, INTERIORS, AND ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS; BOUND IN ORIGINAL PUBLISHER'S OLIVE-GREEN EMBOSSED CLOTH FEATURING GILT-STAMPED CHAIR AND FURNITURE MOTIFS TO THE FRONT COVER AND ELABORATE BLIND-TOOLED PALMETTE BORDERS; FRONT FREE ENDPAPER AND DEDICATION LEAF BEARING PERIOD 19TH-CENTURY INK INSCRIPTIONS: "JOHN HENRY / RICHMOND ROAD" AND "JOSEPH TOMLINSON / INDIANAPOLIS / 1852".
A SEMINAL FOUNDATIONAL WORK OF 19TH-CENTURY AMERICAN ARCHITECTURAL THEORY AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN BY AMERICA'S FOREMOST PROMOTER OF THE GOTHIC REVIVAL AND ITALIANATE "PICTURESQUE" STYLES, PROVIDING COMPLETE PATTERN DESIGNS, SOCIAL ESSAYS ON RURAL LIFE, VENTILATION PRINCIPLES, AND VICTORIAN INTERIOR FURNISHINGS.
CONDITION: POOR TO FAIR ANTIQUE CONDITION (A CANDIDATE FOR REBINDING/RESTORATION); BOTH CLOTH COVER BOARDS DETACHED FROM THE TEXT BLOCK; BACKSTRIP/SPINE CLOTH ENTIRELY ABSENT WITH EXPOSED SEWING CORDS AND LININGS ALONG THE SPINE FOLD; INITIAL LEAVES DETACHED, CHIPPED, AND TATTERED AT MARGINS; INTERNAL PAGES DISPLAY MODERATE TO PRONOUNCED FOXING, DAMPSTAINING, AND DUST SOILING THROUGHOUT.
9.5 X 6 IN