DUGDALE, William (1605-1686). The History of St. Pauls Cathedral in London. London: Thomas Warren,

DUGDALE, William (1605-1686). The History of St. Pauls Cathedral in London. London: Thomas Warren, 1658. 3 parts in one, 2° (339 x 216 mm). Title printed in red and black. Engraved frontispiece author portrait and 44 engravings by Wenceslas Hollar, consisting of one large folding, 11 double-page (on guards), 30 full-page and one half-page text engravings, one full-page plate, woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces. (Without final blank as usual, faint marginal dampstain in a few quires, small repairs to fold of plate of the nave.) 17th-century calf ruled in blind (rebacked, repairs at extremities). Provenance: James S. Bourie (inscription on pastedown).

FIRST EDITION of 'the first printed book to delineate in considerable detail an English building’ (Adams, London Illustrated, p.15). Dugdale was moved to create his important record of St Paul's Cathedral by its poor state of conservation. Within a decade St Paul’s was destroyed in the Great Fire and Dugdale’s work became its lasting memorial. The first is the only edition to contain the finest impressions and full complement of Hollar's engravings. Hollar's vista of the nave and choir has been described as 'probably his masterpiece' (RIBA, citing Pennington). Pforzheimer 341; RIBA 932; Wing D-2482.

View on Christie's.com