THE COUNTRY BUILDER'S ESTIMATOR, OR THE ARCHITECT'S COMPANION de SALMON, William

SALMON, William. THE COUNTRY BUILDER'S ESTIMATOR, OR THE ARCHITECT'S COMPANION. London: James Hodges, (circa 1730). 12mo. Contemporary full-calf. (xiv), 96 pages, 2 folding charts. First edition, second variation. [Harris, 776; Park, 73; Schimmelman, Architectural Books, 123]. Rare edition. This was Salmon's first book and the first one totally devoted builder's prices. It was the most popular of Salmon's price books with editi up to 1774--all of which are scarce. It established the market for consisten price manuals for the building trades that led to his other comparable titles The Builder's Guide, (1736), The London and Country Builders Vade Mecum, (174 and Palladio Londinensis, (1734)--covering the work of the major building cra including bricklayers, blacksmiths, carpenters, pasterers, painters and trimmers. Copies of Salmon's book were advertised for sale in pre-Revolution Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. Contemporary signature in ink on front blank leaf, "Robert Lawrence, His Book, 1730," which is the reason we date t book much earlier than Eileen Harris, British Architectural Books and Writers who dates it 1733-34. Hinges cracked, but firm, else very good.