The American Builder's Companion; or, a System of Architecture, Particularly Adapted to the Present Style of Building

4to. 61 engraved plates. iv, [5]-104 pp. Contemporary sheep, red morocco spine label; well-worn, upper cover nearly detached, usual foxing and toning, a few crude early paper repairs to margins, closed tears and old repairs to a few plates, dampstain to final few leaves Fourth edition of Asher Benjamin's second book, as revised and corrected for the second edition (1811) and with an additional 2 plates showing the plan and elevation of a church. The American Builder’s Companion "became the principal source for the Federal style for carpenters across the eastern half of the United States. Technically the plates were far superior to those in [Benjamin’s first book] The Country Builder’s Assistant, and the work was much broader in scope, including Roman versions of the five orders but also novel variants of capitals and bases. Plans and elevations included town houses, country houses, a courthouse, and a meetinghouse similar to Benjamin’s Old West" (ANB).PROVENANCE: Stephen Winter, Portland, 1833 (inscription on rear pastedown and verso of plate 14); gift inscription from S.F. Frances to Mr. Harkness, 31 Dec. 1926, on front pastedown; William Reese (book-label, purchased from DeWolfe and Wood)REFERENCE: Hitchcock 102.