P[RIMATT], S[tephen].

The City & Country Purchaser & Builder ...

London. Printed for S. Speed. Sold by T. Rookes and I. Wright, [1667]. 8vo., pp. [16], 167, [1], the initial blank A1 cut away; with an architectural engraved title-page (slightly shaved at top), 2 woodcut plates (a 'Plan for a Mansion-House', folding, and a 'Scale of Feet'), 13 large woodcut floor plans in the text, and 9 small diagrams in the text; occasionally a little browned, but a very good copy in contemporary calf, rubbed; with 19th century bookplate and blind stamps. First edition. In 1666 the Fire of London had devastated some 430 acres, destroying over 13,000 houses, 87 churches, and 52 guildhalls in the City of London. While the rebuilding programme led by Wren and Hooke would re-establish the public face of London, there was also a massive need for private redevelopment. Primatt's treatise is issued in direct response to the first efforts in reconstruction, addressed to the many gentleman desiring to build but 'impeded by certain Differences arising amongst them, as to their respective Interests in the Ground', or discouraged because they are compelled 'to trust to the Conscience and Fidelity of Workmen and Surveyors, who have been observed to make Harvest in the City Ruines, and combine together to take excessive Rates for their works' (To the Reader, from my Chamber at Clifford's-Inn, 14 October 1667). The Rebuilding Acts had actually made this problem worse by revoking the need for guild membership and creating a free labour market in construction.Early in 1667 Parliament had appointed certain Justices and Barons for the 'Determination of Differences touching Houses burnt down, or demolished by reason of the late Fire in London'. Primatt's book is dedicated to these judges, Orlando Bridgman, John Keyling, Matthew Hales, and the rest; and as a lawyer Primatt may have been directly involved with their work. In 1668 the book gained official recognition when it was republished 'by order of the judges appointed ... to decide differences'.The work is in two parts. The first, shorter book is a 'General Treatise' of valuing and purchasing lands and houses, including the calculation of rents and leases. 'Of special interest to the historian is the information given here about the values of houses before and after the Fire' (Harris).In the second book, Primatt presents his 'Advice to the City Builder' (meaning the patron, not the workman), taking maxims from Bacon, Wotton and Gerbier, but also presenting the fruits of an original 'Inspection into the Artificiers' respective Mysteries employed in Building'. Primatt gives practical guidance on the costs of labour and materials in brick-laying, carpentry, roofing, tiling, window-fitting, shop windows, flooring, plastering, plumbing and painting: for example, 'For Lathing and Plaistering against Ceelings and Partitions, ten pence a yard, and they to find all materials; or two pence half penny a yard, and the owner to find them ... Half a Tun of Plaister of Paris will lay fifteen yards of lath work ... it is worth one shilling sixpence the yard'. Carvers can produce 'Bandilivers' eighteen inches deep and eight broad, 'handsomely Carved with flowers', to be placed under the roof fronting the street, for five shillings apiece; 'there is those that do it for four shilling ... but very ordinary work.'The city builder is further instructed with detailed costings of whole properties ranging from large house to garrets as small as 10 by 14 feet, as well as mansion houses and residences 'under which there is supposed to be a Shop, or Ware-house', each with a second valuation for the same property if on a 'Street or Lane of note'. The cuts illustrate floor plans for a variety of terraced houses, a mansion-house and a tavern. Primatt's advice to country builders includes recommendations for gardens, 'the purest of humane pleasures', selecting flowers for their colour and scent.This attractive volume, packed with information, is not only the first, but also the most important book about rebuilding London's houses and shops after the Fire. It is also 'the first work in English on building valuation, measurements and prices, forestalling the surveyor William Leybourn's Platform for Purchasers of 1668, much to the latter's annoyance' (Harris).Eileen Harris, British Architectural Books and Writers 1556-1785, p. 380-1; RIBA 2630; Wing P3455.

• GBP 7,500.00 > 其他币种价格
• 订书号：: A1234

• 书商: Bernard Quaritch Ltd. (GREAT BRITAIN)