Architectural Illustrations, History and Description of Carlisle Cathedral; An Attempt to define the Geometric Proportions of Gothic Architecture, as illustrated by the Cathedrals of Carlisle and Worcester

London: Thomas and William Boone, 1840 . First edition. Leather. Very Good. 11.5" by 9". Robert William Billings. The first editions of two works from British architect, author and draughtsman Robert William Billings, examining the architecture of Carlisle and Worcester Cathedrals. The first work present is the first edition of Billings's study of the history and architecture of Carlisle Cathedral. Collated, illustrated with a frontispiece and forty four plates, lacking only plate V.The second work is Billings's examination of the geometry of the gothic designs of Carlisle and Worcester Cathedrals. Illustrated with five engraved plates, as called for by the 'List of Plates' leaf. Collated, complete.This second work was the subject of some scholarly discussion, with the Art Journal reviewing it positively in the year of publication.With the armorial bookplate of Robert Ward to the front pastedown.Both published in 1840, these two works provide a wonderfully insightful portrait of two of England's most impressive Cathedrals, examining their construction, history, design and style. From the library of Doctor Malcolm Higgs, an important architectural historian who worked as an assistant architect to Stirling & Gowan, working on their particularly renowned Leicester University Engineering Laboratory. During his long career he taught at the University of Edinburgh School of Architecture, Canterbury School of Architecture, and University of Nottingham. Later in his life he was the Vice-President and Honorary Librarian of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and contributed and edited the "Journal of Architecture". In a half calf binding, with marbled paper covered boards, and blind tooling to back strip. Light rubbing to back strip head and tail, joints and board perimeters. Front hinge lightly strained but firmly held. Bookplate to front pastedown. Internally, firmly bound. Tidemark to head of frontispiece, and to gutter of each plate. Pages bright and generally clean, with light spotting throughout. Very Good