A History of Renaissance Architecture in England, 1500-1800

London: George Bell and Sons, 1897. First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 11.5" by 8". Not Stated. A first edition copy of Reginald Blomfield's first major historical work, complete in a two volume set. The first edition of this work in the publisher's original cloth binding. Illustrated with 59 plates, 2 of which are folding, and numerous in-text illustrations to volume I. Illustrated with 58 plates and numerous in-text illustrations to volume II. Collated, complete. An extensive study on the development and aesthetics of the Renaissance architecture of England, from 1500 to 1800, covering its first experimental efforts to its ultimate decay. The author and architect Reginald Blomfield is perhaps best known for redeveloping Regent Street and Piccadilly. 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 the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally smart, with just some light wear to the spine and a little bumping to the extremities. Front hinge is strained to Vol I but holding firm. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are generally bright with the occasional spot and handling mark. To Vol II, two plates are detached but intact; a further three plates are coming loose. Very Good