4to. (337 x 253 mm) Bound in the original mauve moiré cloth, printed paper label to the spine; 32pp. (the letterpress largely uncut), 41 hand-coloured plates of which 31 are aquatint plates and 10 engraved (watermarked ‘Balston & Co. 1835’, where visible) all printed from the original coppers, 8pp. publisher’s catalogue bound in at the front of the volume; the mauve of the cloth faded, as usual, to a warm brown to the spine and the upper portion of both boards, the pastedowns replaced at some point in the nineteenth-, or early twentieth century, an especially bright, fresh and broad margined copy.

A reissue of the letterpress of the second edition of 1833 (the preface dated thus), the title-leaf almost certainly a cancel. First published in 1827 by Josiah Taylor, James Thomson’s Retreats comprises a very attractive collection of designs for villas and garden buildings, illustrated with hand-coloured aquatint and engraved perspective views, each with a plan printed below. James Thomson (1800-1883) enjoyed a long and successful career, practising initially in London where he was articled to J.B. Papworth. Subsequently a large proportion of his time was spent on the Wiltshire and Somerset borders, where he designed numerous buildings for the estate of the immensely wealthy lawyer and MP, Joseph Neeld, these included lodges, schools, farm buildings, a villa and churches. Thomson was one of the earliest members of the Institute of British Architects.

Thomson provides models for a variety of small domestic and garden buildings, much in the manner of Papworth. As Archer notes, while Thomson was not interested in ‘a discussion of architectural theory or practice, nevertheless he offered important insight into matters of style, landscape setting, function, and expression.’

Abbey Life 76 (first edition); Archer 333.3; BAL Early Printed Books 3311

Stock number: 1212