A 1765 first of John L Cowley’s The theory of perspective demonstrated… sold for £17,000 by Christie’s (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) on July 12 appears to be the only first edition recorded at auction.
Ten of the 11 plates feature folding parts, printed on both vellum and card, used to demonstrate three-dimensional geometrical designs. This work, says Christie’s, followed on from the author’s 1758 Appendix to Euclid’s Elements in providing a more comprehensive account of the theory of perspective.
The King Street copy, right, boasts a contemporary English binding of red morocco gilt.