Guide for Drawing the Acanthus, and Every Description of Ornamental Foliage

by I. Page

London: Bernard Quadritch, 1886.

Hardback is overall in VERY GOOD condition.

• Antiquarian volume is quarter-bound in red leather with lighter red cloth covers, and features gilt on rounded spine as well as along shoulders.
• Book displays gentle commensurate wear and aging.
• Covers exhibit some overall darkening, as well as edgewear with partially exposed boards at corners and a bump to foot corner on back.
• Front board has a black spot in center, while back board shows a white scuff near bumped foot corner. (See photos)
• Spine shows significant overall rubbing, as well as chipping at ends. Leather has rubbed off of some areas. 
• Binding is overall secure, with a little play and a few gaps. (See photos)
• Front pastedown has bookseller sticker from John Tiranti & Co., London.
• Frontispiece is gently toned and is protected behind intact tissue guard.
• Illustrations are well preserved with gentle toning and rare marginal smudges and spots. (See photos)
• Color plates have retained sturdy tissue guards.
• Interior is gently age-toned with rare minor smudges and spots, as well as occasional minor edgewear to uneven pages.
• Inside pages are free of writing and intentional marks. 
• A few scattered pages of text remain unopened, as issued from printer.
• Glossary of Terms page as well as Contents page show some edgewear, with 5 closed horizontal tears, going into margin 1" max. from fore edge. (See photos)
• Text block edges have slightly darkened gilt along head, as well as deckle fore and foot edges showing commensurate toning.
• SC20200312

245 pages. 5.25 x 7.5 inches.

Handsome antiquarian volume is quarter-bound in red leather, with lighter red cloth covers and gilt on rounded spine as well as along shoulders. 

Book features "Upwards of Two-Hundred Wood-Cuts and Fifty-Three Etchings on Copper, descriptive of the various Characters alluded to." Etchings are full color and appear to have retained their tissue guards. Includes a Glossary of Terms.

This guide presents and instructs on the creation decorations based on the model of the acanthus. A genus of flowering plant, the acanthus has a natural beauty of form that has made it an inspiration since the existence of the Roman and Grecian styles. With a focus on creating drawings, there are samples of how it is used in architectural features, interior building design features, trophies, swords and more. This work describes and comments on the various styles, from the Roman and Grecian to the French and Elizabethan styles, etc. The numerous plates provide examples to illustrate the text, and are numbered for greater accuracy. 

EDITION POINTS: "reprinted in 1886." Initially printed and published by Page, including text, designs and plates, this reprint seems to have kept the feel, and likely the original plates.

The first name of the author has seen some variation as James and John, but is generally considered to by the John Page recorded as a printer at Marsham Street in a few places in London from 1838 to 1842, and also taught at Benjamin Haydon's school of design. 

AS IS! Please see photos. More photos available upon request.

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