53a. Halfpenny, William.
PRACTICAL ARCHITECTURE, / or a Sure Guide to the / true
working according to the / Rules of that Science: / Representing the /
FIVE ORDERS, / with their several / DOORS & WINDOWS / taken
from Inigo Jones & other / Celebrated Architects / to each Plate Tables
Containing / the exact Proportions of the / several Parts are likewise
fitted / Very useful / to all true Lovers of / ARCHITECTURE, / but
particularly so to those / who are engag'd in ye / Noble Art of Building
/ By Willm. Halfpenny. / Printed for & Sold by Tho: Bowles
Printseller next ye Chap-/ter House in St. Pauls Ch. Yard, by Jer. Batley
Bookseller at / ye Dove in Pater Noster Row, & by J. Bowles Printseller
aganst. / Stocks Market. / J. Church Sc. 1724
12mo. Engraved title page (1 leaf); engraved dedication (1 leaf); engraved
preface (1 leaf); 48 engraved plates.
William Halfpenny (fl.1724-52) was also known as Michael Hoare and
was called by both names by Batty Langley (No. 68). He called himself
both architect and carpenter and lived at Richmond and London.
This book, one which was entirely engraved, was his second. Its
first edition was without date, with some subsequent editions in 1724,
1730, 1736, 1748, and 1751. He says, rather immodestly, in his preface:
It is altogether needless to say much concerning the Usefulness of this small
Tract, or the motives which put me upon the Compiling of it, for its Serviceableness
and Advantage to all who are employed in Buildings will appear at
the first Inspection, & the general complaint of Workmen for want of something
in this Nature, is Sufficient reason for my Undertaking it, tho' at a Time
when the Town is already burthened with Volumes. True, Proportions are
the Fundamentals, the Beauty and the very Life of Architecture, and yet tho'
many and able Hands have treated of that Science, I know of none who have
bestow'd their Labours in Calculating these first principles thereof: but now
with great Exactness they are made Publick, neatly & distinctly Engraved on
Copper and brought into such a size as without burthen may be carryed in
the Pocket and be always ready for Use. They are calculated to the several
Sizes which most often occur in Practice from the small gradually on to the
Largest, so that after the Measure of one part is given by having recourse to
these Tables, the Measures of ye other parts are seen at one view and the Time
and Trouble of working the Proportions of every part by Figures are saved.
The edition sold to Congress by Jefferson has not been positively
identified. Sowerby notes that the 1724 edition is Kimball's conjecture
and that he further suggests (p. 94) that Jefferson's copy came from
William Byrd of Westover
ca.1778, but that is uncertain.
The University has recently acquired both the 1724 and the 1736
editions. With the exception of "The fifth Edition, 1736" being engraved
on the title page of that edition, they are identical. Neither edition was
ordered for the University. The library's present copy of the 1724 edition
is the recent gift of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation.
M?
Sowerby 4186
*NA2515.H35.1724
