London: Published by Thomas and William Boone, 29 New Bond-Street, and Robert William Billings, Manor-House, Kentish Town, 1838
Physical Description
vi, [2], 55, XXXI engr. pl.: illus.; 340 mm.
General Note
Plate I is an added engraved title-plate reading 'Illustrations of the Temple Ch[ur]ch By Rob Willm. Billings 1838'. Plate XV is placed, as in many copies, as the frontispiece. The printer statement appears on the verso of the half-title: 'Printed By J. B. Nichols and Son, 25, Parliament Street, Westminster.' Includes, 'Essay on the Symbolic Evidence of the Temple Church. Were the Templars Gnostic Idolaters as alleged?' by Edward Clarkson (p. 1-26). Plate XXI, which relates to Clarkson's essay is placed facing p. 26.
Plate I shows two chain-mailed knights with a depiction of the Temple Church's effigies in the background. On p. 49, in the 'Description of the plates', the author states that illustrations of the effigies can be found in Stothard's 'Monumental effigies'.
Bound with T. & W. Boone's catalogue inserted before half-title.
Provenance
The front loose endpaper is inscribed in ink: 'Edwin Cooper / 21 Old Queen Street / Westminster. S. W.'. Typed on the Royal Academy of Arts bookplate is 'Ex Libris Sir Edwin Cooper, R.A. 1961'.
Binding Note
Contemporary publisher's roan-backed boards, the upper with an impression of plate I (added engraved title-plate). Spine lettered in gold, 'Billings. Temple. Church.'
Subject
Temple Church (London, England) , Knights Templars, Temple Church (London, England) History, Temple Church (London) Architecture History