SMITH, JOHN THOMAS. Antiquities Of Westminister [bound with] Ancient Topography of London.

SMITH, JOHN THOMAS Antiquities Of Westminister [bound with] Ancient Topography of London London: T Bensley, 1807/ London: John Thomas Smith, 1815.

Large square folio (34 x 28cm approx.); rebound in half calf over marbled boards, decorative embossed borders; five raised bands ruled in gilt, with constrasting black leather label gilt to spine; all edges gilt; pp. [vii], 2-16, [i], iv-xv, [iv], 2-276, [122, plates] + [ii, title], [v], 2-82; proliferated throughout with the full suite of black and white and full-colour plates, including the additional compliment of sixty-two additional plates for the Antiquities, dedicated to the King, scattered sporadic spotting and browning, none too extensive, slightly more pronounced to the ffep; previous bookseller description affixed to the front paste-down; marbled boards lightly rubbed, spine a little sunned. Provenance: Previous bookseller description notes that this volume was previously in the possession of the late Ralph Bernard Esq., 1807-15.
First editions.
The Antiquities of Westminster includes two hundred and forty-six engravings of topographical objects, of which the greater part are no longer in existence, and are listed and illustrated in this work. Many of these were contained in the Old Palace and St. Stephen's Chapel (now the House of Commons). Similarly, Ancient Topography of London also contains views of buildings no longer in existence, never before published, along with 'Places and Customs either Unknown , or Overlooked by the London Historians'. The text was originally written by J. S. Hawkins, but after a quarrel with Smith his work was revised by other hands, and his name was omitted at his own request from the title page.

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