The History of London from its Foundation to the Present Time...

much enlarged & preferred edition

A handsome copy of this much enlarged and preferred edition, richly illustrated in folio format. Maitland (c.1693–1757) was a Scottish merchant who, having amassed some wealth in trade, settled in London and produced this important chronological history in 1739. This second edition published fifteen years later includes almost 100 more engraved plates. This was perhaps to compete with Stow's Survey of the City of London and Westminster published two years prior.

Most of the plates were engraved by Benjamin Cole either from the buildings themselves or models. The subjects are mainly public buildings as the 'purpose of this work is, to give an history of the Publick Buildings in the metropolis representing them in elegant figures accompanying these by an illustration of two kind; the first for general use [...] the other destined to the service of the practical architect' (Adams).

Second edition; 2 vols, folio (42.5 x 26 cm); engraved allegorical headpiece and 122 engraved plates ('The North West Prospect of the Parish Church of St. Alban in Wood Street' replaced with 'The North East Prospect of the Parish Church of St. Alphage, near Sion College'), small tear of title vol 2 repaired, clean and pleasant internally; later half calf, marbled boards, spine in six gilt ruled compartments with gilt calf lettering piece, extremities a little rubbed, a very good copy; viii, 1-712; [xii], 713-1410 pp.

Adams 38.