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[Christopher Wren, association]. Thomas Hobbes. Leviathan. [London: Andrew Crooke, 1651]. First edition later issue....
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.![Books:Art & Architecture, [Christopher Wren, association]. Thomas Hobbes. Leviathan. [London:
Andrew Crooke, 1651]. First edition later issue....](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'/%3E)
Description
With Three Leaves of Manuscript Signed
by Master Architect Christopher Wren
[Christopher Wren, association]. Thomas Hobbes.
Leviathan. [London: Andrew Crooke, 1651]. First
edition later issue. Together with original endleaves, now
removed and loose, originally from an account book for work done by
Christopher Wren for the Crown, most likely at Hampton Court.
Book is folio, approximately 11.5 x 7 inches. Manuscript leaves are
approximately 11.5 x 7.5 inches. Text on manuscript leaves are
written in black ink in a secretarial hand. Two of the three leaves
have five signatures, including Christopher Wren ("Cr. Wren"), Hugh
May, Richard Rider (Master Carpenter for the Crown), Thomas Wise
(Master Mason for the Crown), and Thomas Rotherham. All three
leaves are trimmed with significant loss to text, with some remnant
of the title page of Leviathan still present to one leaf, just
under signatures. Leaves toned, worn at edges and somewhat soiled.
Signatures are generally fine. Book collation: [vi], 394 pages.
With engraved title-page and folding letterpress plate inserted.
Bound in contemporary calf, boards paneled in blind. Rebacked,
preserving original calf, boards restored and repaired, new
endleaves. Binding worn, extensive damage to the first three quires
and last several leaves (with substantial loss at bottom), lower
edge of text dampstained throughout, page 385 with a long tear,
both engraved and printed title-pages are mounted (both with
significant loss at bottom), letterpress folding plate damaged at
bottom with loss. Fair.Christopher Wren (1632-1723) was one of the most acclaimed and influential English architects in history. He rebuilt or restored fifty-two churches in London after the Great Fire of 1666, including his great masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral.
Wren and Hugh May were two of three Commissioners for Rebuilding the City of London, and were appointed to this position by Charles II in 1666. Although these manuscripts are undated, May died in 1684, providing a kind of date range for these leaves (1666-1684). These manuscript leaves related to minor repairs at Hampton Court, employing stores at Scotland Yard (mentioned twice). Despite these documents being trimmed, there is still interest to be had. From the Krown & Spellman Collection.
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