[Rarebooks] FS: 1920s Guide to Unusable English Mansions

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

TITLE: “The Unusable House -being- Notes on the Disposal of certain Old
Houses and of Antique Furniture -with a few words on- the Importance of
Fire Insurance”

Published in Bridgworth, Shropshire by Perry & Phillips, Ltd.: no date,
but mid-1920s.

DISCUSSION: A fascinating record of what happened to some of England's
grand old houses after World War One. Perry & Phillips was founded in 1835
and were (and still are, in fact) auctioneers, appraisers and "estate
agents" who would dispose of a house either by splitting it into smaller
residences or gutting & selling whatever architectural details were
guttable and sale-able and then demolishing the remainder. This
promotional book illustrates and describes a number of their victims, er,
"jobs", and also includes illustrations of some of the quaint and curious
old furniture and antiques they were able to sell for the former owners.
And they were proud of their work-

"Many cultured people are inclined to think that those who take a
responsible part in the "demolishing" of an old country mansion must
necessarily be Vandals. This is a harsh judgment and one which is, in
nearly all cases, unfounded. Practically none of the old houses which are
illustrated here, and which have been demolished, was possessed of
sufficient artistic beauty, architectural interest, or historical
association to justify the expense of a continued existence; whilst in
very case it was financially impracticable to remodel the residence in
accordance with modern ideas of hygiene and comfort. One of the most
obvious things in the property market today is that there is little or no
demand for the big, old-fashioned house. Even wealthy people cannot escape
the disabilities consequent upon the new social conditions, especially the
difficulty of obtaining more than a very few good servants".

Quite scarce- like those servants.

DESCRIPTION: Softcover. 7.5"x10", 62 pages (pages printed and numbered on
one side only), black & white illustrations.

CONDITION NOTES: Ex-institutional with several stamps and moderate
external wear, chipped covers.

PRICE:  $125 -

SOME PICTURES =>
<http://www.joslinhall.com/newadd-08-28-13.html#anchor2>

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JOSLIN HALL RARE BOOKS, ABAA
Fine books of the 16th-20th centuries
on the decorative and fine arts & design

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