The British architect: or, The builders treasury of stair-cases.
Subtitle: Containing. I. An easier, more intelligible, and expeditious method of drawing the five orders, than has hitherto been published ... Shewing also how to glue up their columns and capitals. II. Likewise stair cases ... shewing their most convenient situation, and the form of their ascending in the most grand manner: with a great variety of curious ornaments ... III. Designs of arches, doors, and windows. IV. A great variety of new and curious chimney-pieces, in the most elegant and modern taste. V. Corbels, shields, and other beautiful decorations. VI. Several useful and necessary rules of carpentry; with the manner of truss'd roofs, and the nature of a splay'd circular soffit, both in a straight and circular wall, never published before. Together with raking cornices, groins, and angle brackets described. : The whole being illustrated with upwards of one hundred designs and examples, curiously engraved on sixty folio copper-plates.
By: By Abraham Swan, architect
Contributors: Norman, John, 1748?-1817, engraver
Series: Early American imprints -- no. 42944
Publisher: Printed by R. Bell, bookseller, Third-Street, next door to St. Paul's Church, for John Norman architect engraver, in Second-Street.
Published: 1775
Place of publication: Philadelphia
Language: eng
Format: Microform
Number of pages: 17
Subjects: Architecture -- Designs and plans; Stair building; Staircases
Genres: Designs and plans
Notes: The order of the letterpress pages varies from copy to copy. Pagination statement and contents notes reflect the order found in the American Antiquarian Society copy

Plates engraved by John Norman. Some plates have letterpress text

"Philadelphia, June 20th, 1775. Proposals, for printing by subscription, The gentleman and cabinet-makers's assistant. ..."--p. [2], 1st count

"Names of the encouragers."--[4] p. following p. [ii]

"Conditions."--p. [18]

"Philadelphia, June 26th, 1775. Proposals, for printing by subscription, in numbers to be published monthly. A collection of designs in architecture ..."--p. [19], with imprint: Philadelphia: Printed by R. Bell ... for John Norman ... M,DCC,LXXV. Recorded separately by Bristol (Bristol B3923; Shipton & Mooney 42768). The conditions on p. [18] are for the "Collection of designs in architecture."

Bristol B4124

Shipton & Mooney 42944

Metzger, E.M.  Pennsylvania, 455

Hitchcock, H.R.  Amer. architectural books, 1248

Rink, E.  Technical Americana, 2471

Digital image available in the Readex/Newsbank Digital Evans series

Microfiche. [New York : Readex Microprint, 1985] 11 x 15 cm. (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 42944)