AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT WORKS OF ITS KIND: THE FIRST ISAAC WARE EDITION OF PALLADIO, 1738, WITH OVER 200 FINE FOLIO PLATES

PALLADIO, Andrea. The Four Books of Andrea Palladio’s Architecture: Wherein, after a Short Treatise of the Five Orders, those Observations that Are Most Necessary in Building, Private Houses, Streets, Bridges, Piazzas, Xisti, and Temples Are Treated of [engraved title page]. London: Isaac Ware, 1738. Folio (10 by 16 inches), contemporary full mottled calf rebacked, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, red morocco spine label.

First Isaac Ware edition (in English) of Palladio’s enormously important treatise on architecture, with four engraved title pages and 212 numbered architectural plates (205 of which are full-sized folio plates)— still considered the definitive English edition.

First published in Italian in 1570, Palladio’s treatise popularized classical decorative details, becoming what is probably the most influential architectural book ever printed. Incorporating many of his own designs to illustrate the principles of classical Roman architecture, Palladio strongly influenced 18th-century architecture in the British Isles, Italy and America. While Palladio’s work was the most common architectural book owned by designers and builders, it was difficult to obtain in America. Thomas Jefferson commented in 1804 that “there never was a Palladio here [in Washington] even in private hands till I brought one… the chance of getting one in America is slender.” The first English translation of the four books was made by Nicholas DuBois in 1715, with designs by Giacomo Leoni and revised by Leoni in 1721. Leoni’s edition, however, was not authentic enough for Lord Burlington, promoter of the Palladian style in England and noted collector of architectural drawings (some by Palladio himself). Burlington commissioned architect Isaac Ware to produce a more accurate translation, which was “notably more literal than his predecessor’s and is considered, to this day, the definitive one” (Harris). Ware distinguished his edition from Leoni’s (whose plates differ in scale and often in proportion from the originals) as follows: “I have strictly kept to [Palladio’s] proportion and measures, by exactly tracing all the plates from his originals, and engraved them with [my] own hands” (from the Advertisement). Avery 172. Millard 53. Fowler 229. Harris 691.

First three leaves, two plates with expert restoration or repairs. Minor ink stains to plates 11 and 13 of Book I, plates with expert cleaning. Expert restoration to attractive contemporary mottled calf binding. A beautiful copy.