Parentalia: or, Memoirs of the Family of the Wrens ... Chiefly of Sir Christopher Wren, Late Surveyor-General of the Royal Bukldings, President of the Royal Society, &c. &c

London: Printed for T. Osborn and R. Dodsley, 1750. First edition. Titled in red and black. Mezzotint portrait frontispiece, engraved dedication, 3 engraved portraits and 7 engraved plates. Engraved illustrations and engraved head and tail pieces. [4, including engraved dedication], xii, [4], 1-159, 181-368, [4]pp. Errors in pagination as issued. Extra-illustrated with an additional folding plate after page 308. Folio. Nineteenth century brown morocco, by Mackenzie, marbled endpapers, gilt edges, worn at extremities, restoration at joints and spine. Minor foxing. Provenance: Frances Mary Richardson Currer (armorial bookplate); Crewe Hall (armorial bookplate); (truncated) General Theological Seminary (blindstamp, bookplate and other markings). First edition. Titled in red and black. Mezzotint portrait frontispiece, engraved dedication, 3 engraved portraits and 7 engraved plates. Engraved illustrations and engraved head and tail pieces. [4, including engraved dedication], xii, [4], 1-159, 181-368, [4]pp. Errors in pagination as issued. Extra-illustrated with an additional folding plate after page 308. Folio. Complete with the mezzotint portrait of Wren engraved by I. Faber (often missing) and extra illustrated with the "pyramid plate."

The most important source on Christoper Wren, Parentalia includes his only known published writings on architecture and is an essential work of English architectural history. Parentalia was compiled originally by his son who, however, died before the work was finished; it was subsequently completed and published published by Wren's grandson Stephen. The extra-illustration is the title plate to A catalogue of the churches of the city of London; Royal Palaces ... built by Sr Christoper Wren, London, [1749?], and is sometimes found bound into copies of Parentalia.

This example from the famed library of Frances Mary Richardson Currer, one of the first female book collectors in Europe, and, as she was known to Charlotte Bronte, is said to have been the source of Bronte’s pseudonymous first name. Harris, p. 506; BABW 949; Colvin, p. 921; Wiebenson II--18. Lewine, p. 576. Millard British Books, no. 97 (Inventory #: 372183)