AMICO (Bernardino):

Trattato delle Piante & Immagini de Sacri Edifizi di Terra Santa Disegnate in Ierusalemme secondo le regole della Prospettiua, & uera misura della lor Grandezza dal R. P. F. Bernardino Amico da Gallipoli dell' Ord. di S. Francesco de Minori Offeuanii. stampate in Roma e di nuouo ristampate dallistesso autore in piu piccola forma, aggiuntoni la strada dolorosa, & altre figure.

In Firenza Appresso Pietro cecconcelli Allestelle Medicee..., 1620. Small folio, 278 x 203 mms., irregular and inconstent pagination, which sometimes includes the plates, but otherwise the same as the Bridwell copy, i. e., 10: 5, A2, B1, C-F2, G1, H-I2, L2, M1, N-R2, S1, T-V2, X1, Y-Z2,Aa-Cc2, Dd1, Ee-Qq2, Rr1, Ss-Vv2; 82 leaves, pp. [i-x], 1-65 [66] (i.e:88: 22 pages, versos of 19 double-page plates have page number only on one page of text, the other blank and unnumbered; the versos of 3 pages of text, pp. 20, 29 and 42, are blank and not given page numbers) including engraved title page. [34] double-page engraved plates with 47 figures (not allowed for in the numbering of pages, except plate [1], which is pp. [2-3], thus making a total of 33 double-page plates, or 66 unnumbered pages (with figure 42 misnumbered 41 and with figure[41] appearing unnumbered on the same plate as figure 40). Contents: 1a: engraved title page. 1b: blank. 2a - 3a: dedication to Cosimo II. 3b - 4a: preface. 4b: printer's preface. 5a:blank. 5b: license. A1a - Vv2a: text, including [34] double-page plates as described above. Vv2b: colophon and woodcut printer's device. Bound in 18th century calf, with older gilt spine in compartments laid down; generally a very good copy with fine impressions of the plates, which are engraved by Jacques Callot and appear here for the first time. Robin Halwas comments, "Amico's drawings exhibit a new standard of naturalism and topographical veracity. He took the measurements of the plan and elevation himself, expressing them in "the ordinary cane, which is in use in the Kingdom of Naples" (composed of ten palms, corresponding to 7 1/4 feet), or asked others to measure where his access was impeded by the Ottoman authorities. Amico sometimes simplifies and alters what he observes, but scrupulously advises the reader of any distortion, as for example in Chapter 32, where he admits to "correcting" the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by substituting round arches for pointed ones. The value of Amico's was recognized immediately and the Trattato was plundered by numerous authors, most notably Franciscus Quaresmius (1622) and Olfert Dapper (1677). Rembrandt owned a copy of the second edition and borrowed from it Amico's rendering of the Temple of Jerusalem as a domed octagonal building.2 When the methodological investigation of ancient remains in Jerusalem began in the middle of the nineteenth century, Amico's drawings were especially influential, and many scholars attested his accuracy. Archaeological excavation in modern times has diminished the utility of the drawings, however, their value in the historical reconstruction of the shrines, as witnesses to the former state of holy places altered and sometimes destroyed, has not waned. The book will always retain interest as a register of traditions associated with the holy places in the author's time."

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Book number: 6964

Catalogue: Archaeology

Keywords: archaeology History prose

CUMMING (Rev. J. G.):

The Runic and Other Monumental Remains of the Isle of Man.

London, [Chiswick Press, Printed by C. Whittingham..., Chancery Lane], Bell and Daldy..., no date 1857. FIRST EDITION. 4to, 284 x 218 mms., pp. vii [viii "Tabular View"], 44 [45 - 48 subscribers, including half-title, engraved title-page, 15 full-page engraved plates at end, recent boards, with copy of title-page pasted on front cover, paper label on spine; a very good to fine copy, with the bookplate of the collector of anastatic printings, Edward J. Law on the front paste-down end-paper. The geologist and Church of England clergyman Joseph George Cumming (1812 - 1868) began his studies of the geology and history of the Isle of Man when he became Vice-Principal of King William's College in 1841. He published The Runic and Other Monumental Remains in 1848. The present book seems to be intended as a supplement to that work, as the author implies in his "Prefatory Note": "I think it right to state that the following work is primarily an endeavour to exhibit in its rude character the ornamentation on the Scandinavian Crosses in the Isle of Man. An artist will no doubt find fault with the roughness and want of finish of the illustrations. They have not been got up to please his eye, but I believe the book will be found not any the less to give a corrrect idea of thing as they are, and this is all at which aim in its publication."

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 8850

Catalogue: Archaeology

Keywords: archaeology Scandanavia prose

ERRO Y AZPIROZ (Don Juan Bautista de):

Alfabeto de la Lengua Primitiva de España, y explicación de sus más antiguos monumentos de inscripciones y medallas.

Madrid, En la Imprenta de Repulles, 1806. FIRST EDITION. Small 4to, 204 x 134 mms., pp. [x], 300 [301 - 304 index, notes, and errata], engraved plates or tables at pages 85, 103, 145, 164, 169, 178, 185, engraved vignette head-pieces, and six engraved plates of medals and coins at end of text, contemporary sheepskin, red leather label, gilt spine; some waterstaining towards end of volume, short tear to fore-margin of R2, binding a little rubbed, but a goodish copy. Don Juan Bautista de Erro Y Azpiroz (1773 - 1854) studied mathematics and art at university and spent some of his life as a political refugee in England.

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Book number: 8856

Catalogue: Archaeology

Keywords: archaeology medals prose

GREGORY (John Mack):

An Account of the Sepulchers [sic] of the Antients, And a Description of their Monuments, from the Creation of the World, and from Thence to the Destruction of Jerusalem, In Two Parts: The First Comprehending Those that are in Asia, and the Second Those in Africa...The Whole Containing several Geographical and Historical Remarks...

London, Printed for the Author, and to be Sold by J. Barns in Pallmall, W. Taylor..., E. Curll..., and G. Strahan in Cornhill, 1712. ?FIRST EDITION. 8vo, 188 x 114 mms., pp. [viii], xxvi [xxvii - xxviii subscription proposal], 108, with "End of the First Part" on lower margin of last page, slightly later panelled sheepskin, neatly rebacked; no label. Gregory's work was intended to introduce a larger work which was never published. The work is dedicated to the [Henry Somerset, Second] Duke of Beaufort (1684 - 1714), who is extolled as a "Patron of Learning." ODNB rather more prosaically reports that he established a "high-tory drinking society, the Honourable Board of Loyal Brotherhood, in 1709." He was active in the ministry of Robert Harley. The text makes clear, that Gregory did indeed many of the ancient sites that he describes, giving measurements of various sepulchers for example. Curll's name in the imprint is somewhat curious, as this is not the sort of publication one might associate with him at this period. He had, however, opened a books hop in fashionable Tunbridge Wells, and "scholarly" volumes like this one were supposed to be valued by the cognoscenti and the socially aspirational and respectable.

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9455

Catalogue: Archaeology

Keywords: archaeology History prose

NIBBY (Antonio):

Del Foro Romano Della via Sacra dell'Anfiteatro Flavio e de' Luoghi Adjacenti Opera di Antonio Nibby Membro Ordinaria dell'Accademia Romana di Archeologia.

Roman Presso Vincencozo Poggioli Stampatore della R. C. A. 1819. FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. Large 8vo, 223 x 144 mms., pp. [2] 3 - 259 [260 - 261 approbations, 262 imprint], folding engraved plates at pages 178, 179, 236, 242, one full-page engraved plate opposite page 208, transcription printed horizontally on page 126, entirely uncut, original plain paper wrappers (slightly soiled); short tear in lower margin of pages 75/76, paper flaw on lower outer margin of pp. 83/84, but a very good copy. The Italian archaeologist and topographer (1792 - 1830) Antonio Nibby began working for the Vatican when he was 20 excavating Roman monuments, the results of which were published in three books in 1819, including this one, which covers the area around the Forum in Rome, one of the most celebrated locations for trade, commerce, and socializing in the ancient world. In the next year, in the competition or "concorso" for a chair, he was the winner for a post in the Cattedra di Archeologia nell'Archiginnasio Romano. Nibby also worked with the English archaeologist Sir William Gell on a book about the walls of Rome, which was published in 1820. Olschki 17656. Rossetti 7354.

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Book number: 8960

Catalogue: Archaeology

Keywords: archaeology Rome prose

RAUTHEMEL (Richard):

Antiquiates Bremetonacenses: or The Roman Antiquities of Overborough.

Kirby Lonsdale: Printed by and for Arthur Foster. 1824. 8vo, 210 x 127 mms., pp. [ii], [iii - v], vi, 138, engraved frontispiece of Burrow Hall, 1 folding map, 1 folding plan, 3 further engraved plates, contemporary half calf, marbled boards, gilt spine (rubbed); list of subscribers and 3 leaves (pp. 39 - 44) sprung, some general wear to binding, but a good copy. This work was first published by Henry Woodfall in a quarto edition in 1746. The curious note about the author at the end of the present volume tells the reader that he was born in Little Rowland and died there, neglecting to give dates for either event. The author himself seems to have had something of the same affliction, as a report published in 2009, Land Adjacent to Temple Cottage, Over Burrow, Lancashire records, "In 1746 a considerable volume was written about the fort by the Rev. Richard Rauthmel, Antiquitates Bremetonacenses of the Roman Antiquities of Overborough, which was reissued in 1824. Both the original and the revised editions of this publication relate to phases of extensive building at the site, which would undoubtedly have exposed remains relating to the fort (op cit, 37). Ironically, given its supposed subject, Rauthmel's book contained remarkably little information about the fort and it was not until the early 20th century that any serious excavation was undertaken."

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 8060

Catalogue: Archaeology

Keywords: archaeology History prose