DEMONT Traité des premiers éléments d'architecture... Lot 50

DEMONT Traité des premiers éléments d'architecture Paris, Veuve Jean, 1833. In-4°, title - faux-titre - 27 pp & 48 plates numbered 1 to 47 and 1bis. Bound in contemporary half-brown calf, smooth spine decorated with cold irons, boards recently covered with papier coquille Rare first edition of what was to become a great classic of architectural literature for use by building contractors. Starting with a reminder of plane and spatial geometry, the author gives some very useful lessons for carpenters and masons, such as how to cut a board into two equal parts. He then goes on to describe all the elements of construction: walls, vaults and sides, before moving on to sashes and the layout of caissons. His comments are amply illustrated with beautiful plates engraved by Guiguet. A rare edition of which OCLC lists only 3 copies.