1823 Antiquities Of Abbey Church St. Peter, Westminster 50+ Plates 1St Edition Edward Wedlake Brayley Rare Book Room

The History and Antiquities of the Abbey Church of St. Peter, Westminster: Including Notices and Biographical Memoirs of the Abbots and Deans of that Foundation. Illustrated by John Preston Neale. The Whole of the Literary Department by Edward Wedlake Brayley. Complete in Two Volumes. First Editions. Vol. I: London, Published by the Proprietor, J. P. Neale, and Sold by Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1818, Containing Dedication to King George IV; List of Subscribers; Preface; History of St. Peter's Church, Westminster Abbey 227 pp; Chronological Table of Abbots, Priors, Etc., [3]; An Historical Account of King Henry the Seventh's Chapel 72 pp. Vol. II: London: Printed for Hurst, Robinson, and Co., 1823, Containing History of St. Peter's Church or Westminster Abbey 304 + pp. All plates present and intact - a complete work, Fine contemporary signed binding by Period Binders of Bath, England, 11.5 x 9.5", 4tos. In good condition. Modern binding lightly scuffed at edges and leather corners. Marbled paper dulled & toned from general shelf-wear, but still presentable. All edges of both volumes marbled. Modern spines clean and intact. Binder's ink stamp found on fresh front end-pages, top corner. Age-relating toning and age-staining throughout text-block, mostly to plates. Some pencil marginalia present. Leaves adjacent to plates exhibit off-setting. Modern binding tight and intact. Please see photos and ask questions, if any, before purchasing. John Preston Neale (1780-1847) was an English architectural and landscape draughtsman. Much of his work was drawn, although he produced the occasional watercolor or oil painting. His drawings were used on a regular basis by engravers. Neale's earliest works were drawings of insects. He is best known for his architectural drawings, which are executed in pen and tined with water-colors. In 1816, he began the publication of the History of Antiquities of the Abbey Church of St. Peter, Westminster, which was completed in 1823, in two quart volumes, with descriptive texts by Edward Wedlake Brayley. Edward Wedlake Brayley (1773-1854) was an English historian and topographer. Brayley collaborated with his life-long friend, John Britton, on the first six volumes of The Beauties of England and Wales. In 1823, he was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquiaries and he was appointed librarian and secretary of the Russell institution in Great Coram Street in 1825, remaining in the positions until his death. First Editions! Finely rebound in Bath, England. All plates present and intact. GIFT QUALITY! RAREB1823CORX 04/24 - HK1427