Publisher's light blue cloth binding with gilt titles on front panel and spine. Pictorial dust jacket.
x + 451pp. Illustrations in profusion.
Book is clean and square with a neat contemporary owner's name on front endpaper. Jacket is in near fine condition with very minimal edge rubbing.
'Dr R. B Lewcock, who came to South Africa for the first time in 1949, was concerned by the lack of interest shown in this country in early nineteenth century architecture, a survival which in Australia and America would be regarded as a priceless heritage. The present work is the result of his desire to stimulate interest in this period. No other phase had such a complex architecture, involved such rapid changes of taste, or had greater ultimate significance, for during these years the unique character which has marked South African architecture ever since was established.
Prefaced by a brief account of eighteenth century architecture at the Cape, the main body of the work is a detailed study of the buildings over the whole period from 1795 to 1837, fully illustrated in colour, half-tone and line. The book includes, in addition, a discussion of the major trends which have characterised architectural development in South Africa, a description of the interactions of the architectures of the English and the Dutch, analyses of the sources of various foreign stylistic influences, and accounts of the impact of the European Industrial Revolution and of the transition to Victorian.
Not the least important aspect of this work is that it brings to the attention of the public for the first time the full wealth of the architecture of the 1820 Settlers. In countryside and village this exposed community built for themselves, in the face of flood, famine and brutal attack, an architecture of amazing quality and permanence, ranging from tiny half-timbered cottages to fortified manor houses and elegant Regency mansions.'
- Jacket Condition: Near Fine
- Binding Condition: Fine
- Size: 27,5 x 21,5cm
