Antiquarian Book-"Gemmae Et Sculpturae Antiquae Depictae"-1694-

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GEMMAE ET SCULPTURAE ANTIQUAE DEPICTAE. Addita Earum Enarratione by AGOSTINI, LEONARDO (AUGUSTINO). Translated into Latin from Italian by Jacob Groenhoven. … Read more GEMMAE ET SCULPTURAE ANTIQUAE DEPICTAE. Addita Earum Enarratione by AGOSTINI, LEONARDO (AUGUSTINO). Translated into Latin from Italian by Jacob Groenhoven. Franeker, Leonard Strik, 1694. SECOND LATIN EDITION PRINTED IN THE NETHERLANDS 1694 (first published in Italian in 1657, in Latin in Rome in 1680 and in Amsterdam in 1685). This is the only 1600's edition of this work that we have ben able to locate that is for sale! VERY RARE.

2 parts in 1 volume, each with title page, that in Part I printed red and black, PART I ENGRAVED TITLE PAGE (apparently as published although the only other description I found indicated[presumeably incorrectly] that there was a second title pg.). Small 4to, approximately 200 x 150 mm, 8 x 6 inches: 269 engraved plates: engraved portrait of Agostini as frontispiece, 217 plates in Part I numbered 1-3 and 1-214; 51 plates in Part II numbered 1-51; pages: [36], 83, [1]; [12], 71, [1], divisional half-title present in each part. Bound in full contemporary vellum, early hand lettering to spine. Vellum lightly soiled, slightly darkened on spine,prelim pages lightly age-browned; otherwise text and vast majority of plates clean and bright with faint foxing to outer margins of a few plates. Binding tight and firm. A Very Good copy and the text and plates are Very Good-Near Fine. See Sinkankas, Gemology, Volume I, No. 32 which collates exactly as our volume except that the signatures are slightly different. The work consists of "engraved gem illustrations mostly taken from the antique . with annotations by Giovanni Bellori, the noted Italian antiquary. The text is little more than a factual explanation of the objects depicted, but the engravings are remarkable for 'relatively little detail' but done in a 'clever, fresh buoyant manner'" (Sinkankas quoting C. W. King, Antique Gems and Rings). The designs in Part I are mainly portraits plus some of animals. The designs in Part II are of gods, heroes and philosophers in various poses and activities plus some animals. All the plates have a title at the top and below the name of the gem on which they are carved (cristallo,lapis lazzali etc). The designs are by Agostini and the engravings by Giovanni Battista Galestruzzi. Agostini (1593-1669) was born near Sienna and served as antiquary to Francesco Cardinal Barberini. He was appointed by Pope Alexander VII as superintendent of antiquities in the Papal States, and he directed in Rome the excavations of the Forum and of thermae near the church of San Lorenzo in Panisperna.

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