Charlotte A. Pound — Architecture and How It Arose; with a Model for the Gothic

London, E. Marlborough & Co, 1880 . First edition. Cloth. A signed presentation copy of the first edition of this very scarce late nineteenth century discussion of the origins of Gothic architecture. The first edition of this vanishingly scarce work, by Charlotte A. Pound.Inscribed to the half title 'To Dr. Leary, with the kind regards, and many thanks of the author', dated July 18th 1886.Illustrated with eleven vignette illustrations. Collated, complete.In a deeply religious work, Pound demonstrated her ideas about Gothic churches and the resemblances of their shapes to human anatomy for example by comparing the ground plan of Salisbury Cathedral to a woman lying on her back with arms resting on her chest, and demonstrating the manner in which windows and arches resemble hands and feet pressed together.Charming vignette illustrations depict these ideas.With the further inscription of T. W. Dawson to the half title.A signed presentation copy of this very scarce work. From the library of Doctor Malcolm Higgs, an important architectural historian who worked as an assistant architect to Stirling & Gowan, working on their particularly renowned Leicester University Engineering Laboratory. During his long career he taught at the University of Edinburgh School of Architecture, Canterbury School of Architecture, and University of Nottingham. Later in his life he was the Vice-President and Honorary Librarian of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and contributed and edited the "Journal of Architecture". In the publisher's original cloth binding. Bumping to back strip head and tail, with tide mark to rear board and discolouration to perimeters of front board. Hinges strained and somewhat tender. Internally, generally firmly bound. Signed to half title. Pages lightly age toned, with instances of light spotting. Very Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good .