John Buxton, Norfolk Gentleman and Architect

John Buxton, Norfolk Gentleman and Architect: Letters to His Son 1719–29, edited by Alan Mackley. First published by the Norfolk Record Society in 2005 as Volume LXIX of its scholarly publication series, this illustrated hardcover preserves a decade of correspondence by south Norfolk landowner and amateur gentleman architect John Buxton.

Written to his son Robert while the younger Buxton was away at school and later studying at Cambridge, the letters offer a personal view of early-18th-century family life, education, reading, estate affairs, travel, health, and provincial society. They also illuminate Buxton’s interest in books and architecture, making the volume relevant to readers and collectors of British social, architectural, family, and Norfolk history.

This copy is flat signed by editor Alan Mackley beneath his printed credit on the title page. Mackley also added a separate personalized inscription on a blank page: “To Art, with best wishes from Alan, November 2005.” Alan Mackley is credited as the editor of John Buxton’s letters rather than as their author.

Hardcover with dust jacket in Very Good condition, as reported by the seller, with light exterior wear visible around the spine ends and corners. The dust jacket is now protected in a removable clear plastic cover. The signed title page and personalized inscription are shown in the photographs. The book will be packaged carefully to help protect the binding, jacket, and signed pages in transit.