I love buildings and architecture, but particularly I love houses. So when I am searching through Google Books, I am always attracted to early books about them. As I was looking through several of these books the other day, I noticed that many of them were published by
J. Taylor, The Architectural Library.
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| 1802 |
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| 1815 |
In about 1770 Isaac Taylor, an engraver, took over a printing, publishing and bookselling business which specialized in architectural publications. By 1797 he had handed over The Architectural Library to his son Josiah. The publishing firm printed hundreds of different volumes; an advertisement in one of the books lists thirteen pages of titles for sale.
Some of the volumes were reprints of early titles. Grotesque Architecture had first been published in 1767.
It included plans for hermitages, greenhouses and rustic seats, as well as grottoes and cascades.
Other publications were more modern and original.
These cottages are very austere, to my eyes, but they do have interesting floor plans. I must admit though to preferring the 'cottage ornee' style.
The Architectural Library also printed extremely usable handbooks such as: The Builder's Price Book, New Principles of Linear Perspective, The Carpenter's Pocket Directory et al.
And the following useful, and thorough, guide...
It has all kinds of plans:
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| Plan for a Farmyard |
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| Plan for a Brewhouse, Washhouse & Bakehouse |
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| Farmhouse and offices |
I'll be looking through Google Books for more from The Architectural Library. I think we can be sure that readers, for nearly a century from the mid 1700s to mid 1800s, watched for their publications also.
'Til next time,
Lesley-Anne
Source: All titles from Google Books
