Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide;: Or, Repository of Designs for Every Article of Household Furniture, in the Newest and Approved Taste...

London: Published by I. and J. Taylor, 1789. Second edition. Folio (13 3/4 x 9 3/16 inches; 351 x 232 mm.). [i]-iv, [2, index], [1]-24, [2, publisher's ads] pp. 127 engraved plates on 126 sheets (numbered 1-125, with 9[*], 78*, and the final double-page plate numbered 124 and 125).

Beautifully bound in modern navy blue straight-grain morocco. Boards and spines heavily tooled and embellished in gilt. Boards with circular corner devices along edges and urn-shaped inner corner devices. Spine lettered and stamped in gilt. Gilt dentelles. Marbled endpapers. A bit of intermittent spotting and some slight offsetting from plates. Plate number 91 with a two inch closed tear to the upper margin, not affecting engraving. A beautiful copy.

This is perhaps the most rare of the three principle eighteenth-century pattern books (Chippendale and Sheraton being better known). This showcase of furniture design was published after Hepplewhite's death by his wife, Alice, who continued the furniture business as A. Hepplewhite & Co. In addition to numerous furniture patterns for everything from urn stands to beds, the book also includes a double-page plate captioned "Plan of a Room, showing the proper distribution of the furniture."

Berlin Catalogue 1233. Brunet III.105.

HBS 64830.

$6,850.