Architecture.- Library.- Gibbs (James) Bibliotheca Radcliviana: or, a short description of the Radcliffe Library, at Oxford, first edition, engraved portrait of Radcliffe by Fourdrinier after Kneller and 21 plates, engraved portrait of Gibbs by Baron after Hogarth tipped-in to front free endpaper (from another work, and slightly different to that called for in this volume), water-stained, heavier to upper corners, mostly marginal foxing, modern calf-backed marbled boards, spine in compartments and with double claret morocco labels, spine faded, [Berlin Kat. 2334; Fowler 139; Harris 256], folio, Printed for the Author, 1747.

⁂ 'Although Gibbs was ultimately appointed as architect after Hawksmoor's death in 1736, there is reason to think that it was to Hawksmoor that he owed the idea of a centrally planned domed building... Having adopted the idea he transformed Hawksmoor's essentially classical conception of a stately colonaded drum into a sophisticated piece of Italianate architecture of which Maderno or Fontana would not have disapproved' (Colvin p.400).