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1 text volume and 2 portfolios with lithographed plates. Extremely rare first edition, of the complete collection of plates prepared from drawings made by master architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) at his Oak Park Studio, illustrating seventy buildings and projects completed between 1893 and 1909. It is the first major publication by one of the greatest innovators of modern architecture. The work boosted Wright's fame in European architectural circles and influenced key figures in contemporary architecture including Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Peter Behrens and Le Corbusier. The plates show perspective views, plans, sections and interior and exterior details. Plate LVI, with an interior view of the living room of the Coonley House, is one of the most important and desirable of the series. The edition is scarce due to a fire at Wright s home and studio, Taliesin, in August 1914. The later portfolio worn: a little stained, edges a little worn, head and outer protective flap half loose, bottom protective flap loose but present, linen ties somewhat frayed. Two ties of the second plates portfolio are torn and frayed. Text volume, some plates and the wrappers of both portfolios somewhat foxed, some plates with occasional marginal tears (never affecting the image), overlays a little toned. Overall a complete set with the plates, booklet and the two original publisher's portfolios still in good condition, being Wright's extremely rare magnum opus that secured his status in Europe: one of the most influential architectural publications of the century.l Kruft 210; Robert L. Sweeney, Frank Lloyd Wright: an annotated bibliography, 1978, 87; Thieme-Becker XXXVI, 279. Kept loose, as issued, in the original two portfolios (64 x 41.5 cm), both dark blue half cloth with the original publisher's printed grey wrappers over boards with all white ties present. Both portfolios and text leaves are kept in a larger, later beige half cloth portfolio (ca. 65 x 43 cm) with brown paper sides, three protective flaps and white ties. Text volume with the title printed in gold. With a total of 100 lithographed plates in 2 portfolios: 72 plates numbered I-LXIV, printed on grey or white paper and mostly printed in brown, some in grey, grey & white or brown & white, one in gold (plate I), one in colour (plate LXIV) and one plate folding (plate LX), and 28 overlays, printed in brown on tissue paper. Each plate embossed with Wright s blind stamp. Pages: 30, [1], [1 blank] pp.; plus 100 lithographed plates. 1mo (plates, ca. 64 x 40 cm) and folio (text volume, ca. 41 x 32 cm).
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