The Plan of St. Gall; A Study of the Architecture & Economy of, & Life in a Paradigmatic Carolingian Monastery
Berkeley: University of California Press, 1979. First Edition. Hardcover. Three volumes (complete) with errata slip, folio size, approx. 1060 pp., with Errata slip. Fine. Item #23080501
For those familiar with this incredible work, you may skip the following paragraph. For those who may be asking themselves, whyever should I be interested in an extremely, large, heavy set of books whose subject is a drawing of the plans for a medieveal monastery, read on.
The year following the publication of this work, the "California Monthly" issued (in their June/July, 1980 issue, written by David Littlejohn) a four-page review. In part, they remarked: "[t]his is a medieval forest of a book, which keeps spiring into infinitely ramifying digressions, until one feels oneself wandering in a vast Omnium Gatherum of everything there is to know about the early middle ages. In this book are many other books - a history of wine, a chronicle of 20th-century German archeology, a world survey of mills and mortars, an account of the Ural-Slavic origin of hopped beer, all you might wish to know about the dangers of homosexual temptation in a monastery, and a 4,600-word monograph on privys and excreta (with 26 illustrations)..."
This work one of the University of California's studies in the history of art, the complete series list on the verso of the title pages.
___DESCRIPTION: Three volumes bound in natural linen over boards, red leather spine labels with gilt lettering and rules, the volume number and publisher stamped in black onto the spines, patterned endpapers (different colours in each volume), title pages in black and red, text in two columns, each volume replete with drawings, diagrams, reproductions of photographs, etc., many printed in black and red; folio size (14 1/4" by 11 1/2"), pagination: Vol. I, [i-v] vi-xxviii, 1-356; Vol. II, [i-iv] v-xii, 1-360; and Vol. III which consists entirely of the Appendices, [i-iv] v-xxxiv, 1-268 [1, "Notes" sheet, blank]. Loosely laid into Vol. III is the "Corrigenda and Errata Addendum" sheet which accompanies such list on pp. 264-65. Note that with this set we will include a colour copy of the above-referenced California Monthly review.
___CONDITION: The set is fine overall, with clean boards, straight corners without rubbing, strong, square text blocks with solid hinges, the interiors clean and bright, and the set entirely free of prior owner markings; some very light wear to the leather spine labels, else fine. The Corrigenda and Errata sheet fine, clean and without wear.
___POSTAGE: Please note that this is an exceptionally large and heavy set, and additional postage will apply; please inquire for details.
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Price: $350.00