Frank Lloyd Wright

Typescript Signed and Inscribed, "To Lewis F. L.Wright," with usual hurried last name appearing like a "WT," 11 pages, 8.5" x 11", [Taliesin, February 1953, an essay, typed at Wright's studio at Taliesin West with his unmistakable type face and spacing (inviting the possibility that Wright typed this himself), entitled "THE LANGUAGE OF ORGANIC ARCHITECTURE," and inscribed by Wright to New Yorker architectural critic Lewis Mumford, who adds a pencil notation at the top left of page one: "Feb 1953." Some minor edge wear, light toning at margins, two staple holes at top left, else fine condition. 

"The Language of Organic Architecture" is perhaps the most succinct elucidation of Wright's architectural philosophy. It lays out nine terms (but really principles) that defined what he termed "Organic (or intrinsic) architecture," which he considered "the free Architecture of idea DEMOCRACY." Wright's "nine-word lexicon," that he found helpful to "defend and explain whatever I have myself written on the subject," included: "NATURE," "ORGANIC," "FORM FOLLOWSFUNCTION," ROMANCE," "TRADITION," "ORNAMENT," "SPIRIT," "THIRD DIMENSION," and "SPACE." Wright offers a brief comment after each, observing how each term had been abused. (For instance, after "FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION," he complains that "Too many foolish stylistic constructions are placed upon the slogan.")