BLONDEL (Jacques-François). - Lot 5

BLONDEL (Jacques-François). Cours d'architecture, ou traité De la Décoration, Distribution & Construction des bâtiments ; Contenant Les Leçons donnés en 1750, & les années suivantes. [Continued by M. Patte]. Paris: Desaint, 1771-1777. - 9 volumes in-8, blond half-calf with corners, spine ribbed with gilt fillets, untrimmed (period binding). First edition of this collection of lectures given by the architect Jacques-François Blondel (1705-1774) at the École des Arts, an institution he himself founded. Blondel died in 1774, and his work was continued by his assistant, architect Pierre Patte (1723-1814), who designed the last two volumes of text. The illustration comprises 377 copper-engraved plates, many of them folding, in 3 separate volumes. A good copy in contemporary binding. Damage to head cover of first volume. Used rubbing to bindings, including title and gutter. Rust stains on several leaves in volume 1. A few rare freckles and browned leaves. The two titles appearing in the first volume of plates have been cut at the edges, the first one has been brought back.