[LANGLEY, BATTY (1696-1751)]. The Builder's Director, or Bench-Mate: Being a Pocket-Treasury of the Grecian, Roman and Gothic Orders of Architecture, Made Easy to the Meanest Capacity by Near 500 Examples. Improved from the Best Authors, Ancient and Modern, of Pedestals, Bases, Shafts, Capitals, Columns, Architraves, Friezes, Brackets, Cornices, Arches, Imposts, Key-Stones, Trusses, Moldings of Raking Pediments, Frontispieces, Portico's, Arcades, Colonades, Chimney-Pieces, Fretts, Guilochi's, Groins, Weatherings, Moldings for Tabernacles, Frames, &c. Proportioned by Minutes and by Equal Parts. The Like Never Before Published. Engraved on 184 Copper Plates. Wherein the Orders of Andrea Palladio are Truly Laid Down, Free from Erroneous Measures. Written for the use of Gentlemen Delighting in True Architecture; and for Masters and Workmen to Draw from and Work After. London: Printed for A. Webley, in Holborn, near Chancery-Lane, 1763. Those who purchase twelve Books together, or recommend twelve buyers, shall have one Book gratis.
REPRINT. Leather-bound; hardcover; octavo (16.5 x 10 x 2 cm); pp. xxiv + 184 engraved plates on 92 leaves (printed on both sides). English text. Bound in contemporary reverse calf. Decorative initial and head-piece. Index at front. Condition: GOOD. Binding tight and secure, the covers with moderate marking, the spine ends and points rubbed with some losses. Lacking front blank leaf, otherwise complete, the interior with some light edge toning, some old inking to the endpapers including a previous ownership name and date.
Notes: A rare title originally published in 1747. This 1763 edition appears to be a reissue of the sheets originally published by A. Webley in 1761 with a cancel title-leaf. It contains an introduction by Batty Langley dated July 14th, 1746; as well as written information and explanations of terms for students of architecture. There are 184 diagrams and examples of decoration and techniques printed from copper plates. Scarce, particularly in the original binding. Ref.: ESTC N15551.
