Guild Fred Perkins (3 results)

Paperback. Condition: New. Print on Demand. This book chronicles the origin story and development of Central Park. The book begins in 1851, when discussions began among city officials about the urgent need for a designated green space in New York City, and follows the six-year planning and design process which preceded the official establishment in 1857. The author discusses some of the obstacles in securing appropriate land for the park, including opposition to spending public funds on it and the existence of existing structures, as well as legal battles with landowners, and other tensions which arose as work began on the project and continued throughout its early years. What emerges most clearly from the account is a sense of the ambition and determination possessed by the project's designers and supporters. The author describes several instances of resilient leadership, including one in which design proposals were altered to accommodate an existing water reservoir. Completed with historical photographs of the park, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in New York history or landscape design. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book. print-on-demand item.

Hardcover. Condition: Very good. First Edition. Quarto. 9.5 x 11.625 in. [2 blanks], 78, 4 [blanks] pp. + 51 unnumbered leaves. Fully illustrated with 50 mounted albumen prints ("views"), each approx. 3.25 x 4.75 in., plus oval title-page vignette of the Music Pavillion and 7.75 x 3.75 frontispiece photograph, described in the preface as "a prophecy. a photograph from an engraving on stone of the Terrace and the Mall, somewhat as they are to look in time to comeâ with fountain, statuary, and adornments complete, and the shadowy leafage of the trees canopying the Mall" (Preface, p. 6). Perkins' text, his Historical Sketch, accompanies the plates and is "chiefly concerned about the aesthetic career of the park" (Preface, p. 5). Very good in original dark brown pebbled calf over bevelled boards, neatly rebacked, hinges neatly reinforced with hinge tape. Titled in gilt on spine and upper cover, a.e.g. with dentelle. Very good. Moderate wear to leather, with some scraping and rubbing. Reading room presentation stamp to front free endpaper. Some light spotting & soiling at front & rear to margins of text, which otherwise remains quite clean and bright. Covers very sturdy, binding secure. A very scarce photographic guide and panegyric of Central Park, published only six years after its establishment, and written by noted editor and librarian Frederic Beecher Perkins (1828-1899).

Full leather. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Very scarce 1864 photographic study of Central Park, with 50 mounted albumen prints of the Park by W. H. Guild, Jr. and "descriptions and an historical sketch" by Fred B. Perkins. Cleanly ex-libris, each print having been neatly --and inconspicuously-- stamped at its rear by the "Grand Rapids Public Library". Skillfully, professionally rebacked, with about half of the original spine laid back on. Light, forgiveable scuffing as well at the panels, which show minor restoration along the hinges and the edges. Bound in its original, full dark-calf, 5 raised bands, all edges gilt. Thick quarto, 77 numbered pages. Light wear (possible subtle plate removal?) at the front pastedown, still though very presentable and solidly VG. As to the album's scarcity, records show that no copy has come to auction since 1988. A wonderful piece of Americana, specifically of 19th century New York history and photography.