An Essay on British Cottage Architecture; being an attempt to perpetuate on the principle that a peculiar mode of building, which was initially the effect of chance. Supported by fourteen designs, with their Iconography, or plans, laid down to scale; comprising dwellings for the peasant and farmer, and retreats for the gentlemen, with various observations thereon: the whole extending to twenty-one plates, designed and executed in aquatints by James Malton. First edition. 4to, large paper copy, half-title, title, introduction pp. 1-12, text pp. 12-27, 21 aquatint plates and plans comprising 14 hand-coloured plates and one uncoloured, 6 plans printed in sepia. Contemporary speckled calf, re-backed preserving part of old spine, new morocco label. Unlike contemporary architects, who advocated order, regularity, and symmetry in domestic design, Malton wanted to “perpetuate [...] the peculiar beauty of the British picturesque, rustic habitations,[which were] the most pleasing, the suitable ornaments of art that can be introduced to embellish rural nature.” Coloured plates in order: 1. A series of window designs (12 figs). 2. A cottage, and two window designs, and two bars. 3-4. A pair of almost identical rustic cottages. 5. Four very similar rustic cottage designs. 6. A single-storey rustic cottage. 7. A two-storey country dwelling. 8. A series of various plans and designs for the cottages mentioned above (sepia). 9. A two-storey country cottage. 10. A more expensive two-storey country cottage with more sophistication. 11. A series of assorted plans and designs for the above-mentioned cottages (sepia). 12. A two-storey cottage with twin columns and bay windows etc. 13. A two-storey cottage with four columns, shuttered windows, etc. 14. A series of plans and designs for the cottages mentioned above (sepia). 15. A more substantial and sophisticated two -torey dwelling. 16. A larger two-storey dwelling with wooden facia boards, thatch, columns, etc. 17. A series of plans and designs for the cottages as mentioned earlier (sepia). 18. A single-storey cottage with twin columns and a thatched roof etc. 19. A pair of plans and designs for the cottage as mentioned above - including cut-through sections (sepia). 20. A substantial three-storey cottage with front steps, columns, thatched roof, graveled driveway, numerous windows, tiles, etc. 21. Plan and design for the cottage mentioned above (sepia).