London: John Day and others, 1824. Quarto, leaf size 27 x 18.5 cm. Bound in contemporary full dark brown calf, spine with label, raised bands, gilt ornament, marbled endpapers. pp [2], iv, viii (Memoir of the author), 176, xl, 16 (Appendix), (4, Directions to the binder), [2] + frontispiece portrait, engraved title, and 140 plates. A great many figures in text. Joints and inner hinges neatly repaired with rice paper; two inch tear to leather at spine label neatly repaired; some wear to outer corners; vertical creases to Preface and Contents leaves (2 leaves); tanning to page edges; light tanning to margins throughout; short edge tears to a few leaves; scattered minor modest soiling and foxing but pp 91-94 and plate, which have a large tan stain; moderate scuffing to covers, which also have some shallow circular indentations; else a VG unworn copy, now tight in the binding. "In consequence of the great improvements that have recently been made in every branch of Architectural Science with regard to Geometrical Construction, the works formerly written on the subject are rendered deficient in elementary principles, and more expeditiously performed; therefore, in order to remove these defects, we have embodied in this work as much of Geometry, Conic Sections, Trigonometry, Projection and Perspective, as will enable the student to comprehend with facility, and represent with accuracy, all the constructive departments of Building, with the application of these principles to Masonry, Carpentry, Joinery, and the Construction of Hand Railing." - Preface. The title page continues "Comprehending definitions and descriptions of the component parts of buildings. the principles of construction and the geometrical development of the principal difficulties that usually occur in the different branches of mechanical professions employed in the erection of edifices." A similar title was published in 1823 in two volumes. "Peter Nicholson (20 July 1765, Prestonkirk, East Lothian - 18 June 1844) was a Scottish architect, mathematician and engineer. Largely self-taught, he was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker but soon abandoned his trade in favour of teaching and writing. He practiced as an architect but is best remembered for his theoretical work on the skew arch (he never actually constructed one himself), his invention of draughtsman's instruments, including a centrolinead and a cyclograph, and his prolific writing on numerous practical subjects." - Wikipedia. Note: 2.5 kg parcel.