Specifications of the Work to Be Done in the Erection and Completion of the House of W.C. Whitney, Esq., N.E. Corner of 69th Street and Fifth Avenue. New York City (Original Album) + 2-Pg. Charles McKim Letter Addressing the Renovation

A wonderful piece of New York architectural history: The 1897 McKim, Mead and White original album of "Specifications of the Work to Be Done in the Erection and Completion of the House of W.C. Whitney, Esq., N.E. Corner of 69th Street and Fifth Ave. New York City". Overseen by Stanford White, this ambitious 6 year renovation (1897-1903) of the great "Stuart Mansion" ultimately cost William C. Whitney $3.5 million and was completed only a year before his death. The first 30 pages of the notebook are in a handwritten manuscript, the balance (the final 100 or so pages) in a typed manuscript. The dark-cloth album, solid and VG+ with its decorative blindstamping at the panels, measures 8 1/2" wide x 10 1/2" tall and also includes a laid-in 2-page handwritten letter from Charles McKim himself addressing the specifications of the renovation. Very scarce glimpse (probably the sole copy) into the world of one of the great New York architecture firms and their approach to major renovation projects.