The Builder's Practical Director, of buildings for all classes, enabling every freeholder to be his own surveyor and builder; containing plans, sections and elevations for the erection of cottages, villas, farm buildings, dispensaries, public schools etc.[2 uniform vols]

Gothic pictoral title-page, iv, 266pp, 132 single sided plates, some coloured. 29x23, half bound in calf over textured boards Spine rubbed and faded, slight foxing, good thus. This influential early 19th century work aimed to place before the reader "the whole art of Building". Included are very nice designs for masonry, roofs, brickwork etc; and for various building types: gentlemen's villas, town houses, cottages, schools, "a first class tavern", conservatory etc. The work is particularly interesting for the several early model schemes for workmens' houses and cottages illustrated. Author unstated but was A H Payne.Originally published as two periodical series, this is the main first series and does not contain the subsequently published supplements. [Very heavy item, will require additional postage to most destinations].