Observations on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening.
London: Phaidon Press, 1980. 4to. Limited edition. #444 of 445 copies. A facsimile of the first publication in 1803. Quarter brown calf over brown cloth boards. Leather label to spine. Raised bands, gilt. Marbled end papers. Top edge gilt. In brown cloth slip case, as issued. 38 tissue-guarded plates, some folding, many in colour, 14 of which have overlays, and one colour diagram. Very small owner's sticker to front paste down, otherwise fine. Item #9263
Humphry Repton (1752-1818), successor to 'Capability' Brown and Britain's first professional landscape gardener, expounded his principles of gardening in three major publications. Of these, Observations is undoubtedly the most important. Written partly to prevent his rivals plagiarising his ideas and partly as a response to the criticisms of the Picturesque Party, headed by Uvedale Price and Richard Payne Knight, it is the complete statement of Repton's system of landscape design, where house and garden, scientifically integrated, combine to form one unified composition. The published price was £225.
Price: £500.00