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"How far the taste and
manner of the architecture may give any light into the age which produced
it, our engravings will put in every person’s power to judge for
himself…”
-R. Wood, The Ruins of Palmrya "Of all the works that distinguish this age, none perhaps excel (Robert Woods's) beautiful editions of Baalbeck and Palmyra." -Horace Walpole |
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(WOOD, Robert). The Ruins of Palmyra, otherwise Tedmor in the Desart. London: 1753. Elephant folio (22 x 15 inches), contemporary three-quarter calf rebacked over marbled boards. $7500. First edition, Large Paper Copy, of Robert Wood’s most famous work, illustrated with 62 large engraved plates. Robert Wood traveled to the ancient city of Palmyra to study and record the architecture and designs of the Roman ruins. His comprehensive survey became one of the primary sources in England and America for the classical revival so popular in the late eighteenth century. Countless American buildings, columns, porticos and designs were modeled directly after the engravings in Wood’s work, with plate XVIII (“Eagle Decorating Ancient Roman Temple”) even incorporated into the Seal of the United States. A fine wide-margined copy with crisp, clean plates with only occasional light foxing. A beautiful copy of an important work. please click images to enlarge:
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