two autograph letters signed von sir john summerson architectural historian (2 Ergebnisse)

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Philip Dosse (Summerson spells it 'Dossé') was proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including Books and Bookmen and Plays and Players. The five items are in good condition, lightly aged. The three letters signed 'John Summerson'. ONE: ALS, 3 October 1973. 1p, 12mo. Two previous letters from Dosse were sent while Summerson was in Canada. 'The book on Fischer von Erlach I will review with pleasure. I'm not sure that I want to do the Raj book as well anyway, not in the same review. I will either do a short review or let you have it back, whichever you say.' TWO: ALS, 22 October 1973. 1p, 12mo. 'It is really most kind of you to arrange for me to have the Inigo Jones book which I shall be delighted to review and possess.' He has just dispatched a joint review to 'my typing lady who lives in the country and is slow'. THREE: ALS, 26 October 1973. ANS, 26 October 1973. Regarding the joint review he writes: 'The typescript of the King's Architecture / Fischer v. Erlach review has just come to hand so here it is'. FOUR: Autograph Manuscript of review of J. C. Connant, 'Carolingian and Romanesque Architecture' (1974). 2pp, foolscap 8vo. Single-spaced, on ruled paper. With a few emendations. FIVE: Autograph Manuscript of review of Puppi, 'Andrea Palladio' (1975) and D. Guinness and J. T. Sadler, 'The Palladian Style in England, Ireland and America' (1976). As Item Four, single-spaced and on ruled paper. With the last two pages carrying pasted-in sections, and a few emendations elsewhere.

Both letters in very good condition, and each in a stamped, postmarked envelope, and each addressed by Summerson to Cuddesdon Manor, Oxon. Letter One (2 May 1972): To Peter Rhodes. 2pp., 12mo. He is 'rather surprised' to find that the ruins of Soane's Piercefield House are 'still there!' The best he can do is 'to warn the National Monuments Record of the approaching dissolution'. They are 'seriously overworked but they might have a photographer in the area who would improve on Miss Stroud's snap-shots'. Soane 'used the same design for Piercefield and Shotesham', and 'perhaps it is as well that Soane did duplicate himself on this occasion. Shotesham is in very good order.' Letter Two (1 August 1974): To Felicity Rhodes. 2pp., 12mo. He hopes she is correct in stating that 'Piercefield has been saved': 'I have indeed heard that somebody is considering restoring it but whether he will go ahead I don't know. There is almost nothing left but the facade and that is badly damaged.' Summerson only knows Hay Castle 'by name', and it is 'difficult to do much about the proposed buildings in the grounds and without knowing a lot more about the proposals there is really nothing I can say.' There have been cases where the reasonable development of an estate with small houses has had the effect of saving an old mansion.'.