Australia's Home; Its Origins, Builders and Occupiers by Boyd, Robin - 1952

Melbourne University Press, Australia, 1952. First Edition. Hardcover (Original Cloth). Good/No Dust Jacket. Preface by author, glossary and index. Black-and-white photographic frontispiece, showing an abandon home from the 19th century, New South Wales. The text is illustrated with black-and-white photographs and the occasional black-and-white illustrations. Pale blue coloured cloth covered boards with purple coloured insert to the top edge of the backstrip; and, within that purple insert gilt coloured titles. From the author's preface, "... This book, a study of the vernacular in domestic building in Australia, is concerned for the most part with a small houses which have taken up some two-thirds of the building capacity of the nation."  The book is showing age and use – please see photograph. Softening, rubbing and some fraying of the backstrip edges and of the book corners. The book corners have the underlying board visible. Quite noticeable rubbing of the book edges and panels; with the cloth of the board starting to fray to the lower edge of the front panel. Multiple handling marks and stains to the book panels with fading of the backstrip; and patchy fading of the rear panel. Light tanning of the textblock edges and age toning of the pages. Offset tanning and handling marks to the end pages with previous owners name to the top edge of the free front end page. The front hinge has started to crack. The gilt titling of the backstrip has almost faded completely.  This is the first Australian edition. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. X, 287 pages,. Please refer to accompanying picture (s). Quantity Available: 1. Category: Architecture; Sociology & Culture. Inventory No: 0129854. .