ASHBEE, C. R. (1863-1942). The Trinity Hospital in Mile End ... Being the First Monograph of the Committee for the Survey of the Memorials of Greater London, London, 1896, 4to, 13 plates, original tan wrappers. FIRST EDITION.

ASHBEE, Charles Robert (1863-1942).  The Trinity Hospital in Mile End: An Object Lesson in National History ... Being the First Monograph of the Committee for the Survey of the Memorials of Greater London. London: "Published by the Guild & School of Handicraft, Essex House, Bow," 1896. 4to (290 x 225mm). Woodcut device of the Guild on the verso of the title, 13 plates, including 7 folding and 2 coloured, illustration (frontispiece [i.e. plate 13] partly detached). Original tan wrappers with woodcut device on the upper wrapper, uncut (with a few short tears at the edges without significant loss, and some fraying). FIRST EDITION of this monograph which can be seen as the first in the series of "Survey of London" publications - which continues to this day - and, arguably, marks the beginning of the conservation movement in Britain. (William Morris's "Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings", founded in 1877, was intended more to curb the well-meaning 'restoration' of existing structures rather than prevent their destruction.) At the beginning is printed what amounts to a manifesto of "The Committee for the Survey of the Memorials of Greater London": "Its object is to watch and register what still remains of beautiful or historic work in Greater London, and to bring such influence to bear from time to time as shall save it from destruction or lead to its utilization for public purposes. The Committee is at present engaged in compiling a Register in which every interesting memorial within the radius treated is recorded, together with a series of illustrated monographs on the more interesting buildings. Of this series the present volume is the first issue."