1752 – Art of Building, Salmon | Palladio Londinensis Illustrated Architecture

William Salmon’s Palladio Londinensis was a 17th-century building and mathematics manual. This book, more commonly known as ‘The London Art of Building’, was based on the teachings of architectural giants Vignola, Palladio, and Vitruvius. It frequently references Vigonla’s “Five Orders” offering instruction and direction for bricklayers, masons, carpenters, and all other sorts of tradesmen. This work contains dozens of numerous, folding engravings with hundreds of figures illustrating geometric problems, building plans, column construction, door frames, trusses, and much more!

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Palladio londinensis: or, The London art of building : In three part. I. Containing a demonstration of all the geometrical problems
• Author(s): William Salmon
• Publisher: London, Printed for Ward and Wickstead
• Edition: Fourth edition, 1752
• Binding: Original leather
• Format: (4to), single volume
• Size:  9.75 in x 7.25 in (24.8 cm x 18.4 cm)
• Collation: 132, [14] pp
• Illustrations: Numerous folding engraved plates with geometric and architectural figures
• Contents Include:
  • Geometrical problems applicable to building practice
  • Measured plans and proportional systems
  • The Five Orders and classical architectural elements

Condition:

Good. Original leather binding with professional restoration to the binding and hinges. Edges and corners show heavy rubbing and wear consistent with age and use. Text block remains complete, with folding engraved plates present. Interior pages show expected age toning without noted loss of text.

Why Collect This?

• First edition of a widely cited eighteenth century English architectural manual
• Retains all of the original folding engraved views

Item Number: #50053