Engraved on thirty-one plates, with plans and explanations; [TOGETHER WITH] An Introductory Essay, containing remarks on the prevailing defects of modern architecture and on the investigation of the style best adapted for the dwellings of the present times. Small 4to, [i], text 23pp., title with an imprint on verso, Cox, Son, and Baylis, dedication one leaf, 31 engraved plates numbered 1-31, these untitled. Abbey describes plates as uncoloured aquatints; of these 20 hand-coloured aquatint plates, some heightened with gum arabic. Small quarto, fresh marbled boards, 3/4 tan leather binding, fresh gilt labels to spine. Plates show general views of rural houses, some with floor plans and accompanying descriptive text. This work is of particular interest for the influence of Indian architecture on the mind of an architect trained in the strictest school of “Classical domestic.” See Repton, Pavilion at Brighton, in an earlier volume of this work for an important example of this influence. The preliminaries to this work include a dedication to Thomas Hope. The Memoir contains an account of Aikin’s writings and his professional accomplishments as an architect. In his preface, Aikin proposed demonstrating this in his designs, “I have not been guided by caprice or fashion but have pursued a system, reasoned if not rational, and consistent if not solid” (p. 1). He recommended “the architect should endeavour to think like an ‘Ancient’ placed in modern times.” Thomas Hope, a native of Scotland, was a Regency designer par excellence, particularly of furniture, and generally a respected arbiter of interior taste. Ron Norman of Hartlepool carried out rebinding and restoration work on this book. (Ronnorm@aol.com) Coloured plates in order: 1. A dwelling of a humble cottage adapted for the retirement of a small family. 2. A small Country-house... 3. [Plate is uncoloured.] 4. The elevation of a small Villa, suitable for the summer residence of a genteel family. 5. [Plate is uncoloured.] 6. The elevation of a Sporting Lodge, or habitation for a single Gentleman. 7. [Plate is uncoloured.] 8. The elevation of a Sporting Lodge, or habitation for a single Gentleman. 9. [Plate is uncoloured.] 10. A Villa of moderate size. 11. [Plate is uncoloured.] 12-13. The front and back elevations of a Villa of considerable magnitude. 14. [Plate is uncoloured.] 15. The elevation of a Villa. 16. [Plate is uncoloured.] 17-18. The elevation of a Villa of large size. 19. [Plate is uncoloured.] 20-21. Front and back elevations of a considerable Villa. 22. [Plate is uncoloured.] 23-24. The elevations of a large Villa or Mansion. 25. [Plate is uncoloured.] 26. The elevation of a small Villa at present at Totteridge. 27. [Plate is uncoloured.] 28. Elevation of alterations and additions to a house at Upper Clapton. 29. A Diary-building and Summer-house. 30. A little Summer-house or Belvedere, in the form of a monopterous temple of the Tuscan Order. 31. A temple in antis of the Ionic Order.