The Builder’s Assistant: Fully Explaining, the Best Methods for Striking Regular and Quirked Mouldings

1800. BENJAMIN, Asher. The Builder's Assistant: Fully Explaining, the Best Methods for Striking Regular and Quirked Mouldings. Engraved frontispiece and 37 plates, 2 of which are folding (offsetting with browning and spotting, pl. 25 with chips into platemark but not inked area, pl. 33 detached at fold, some damp staining at end). 4to, 196 x 141 mm., contemporary sheep, remains of morocco title piece on spine (quite worn), in a modern green chemise and slipcase. Greenfield: Thomas Dickman, 1800. An unsophisticated copy of the third edition of Asher Benjamin's influential work, the first original architecture book printed in America. Asher Benjamin began his career as an apprentice builder in Connecticut and left his distinctive mark on the architecture of New England in many notable houses, churches, and civic buildings. His most enduring influence came through his pattern books, which defined the "late colonial" style in America and provided a home-grown architectural guide in place of the imported or re-printed English pattern books of the previous generation. This third edition has a truncated title and introduces an engraved frontispiece to the contents. The only copy at auction sold in 1921. All the early editions are rare. Evans 36941; Hitchcock 113. PROVENANCE: From the library of William S. Reese.