Le Antichitá de Ercolano esposte. Naples: Regia Stamperia, 1754-1792. 9 volumes (including Ottavio Bayardi's Catalogo degli Antichi Monumenti... di Ercolano bound as vol. I), 2° (462 x 353mm; vol. IX 490 x 370mm). Half-titles, titles in red and black (excepting the Catalogo) each with engraved vignette, engraved general title to vol. II, 8 portraits, one double-page map, 605 plates (of 610) of which 5 double-page or folding, approximately 790 text-illustrations and 547 initials (including repeats). (Lacking pl. XXVII from vol. V, pl. XCIII from vol. VII, and pls XXXII-XXXIV in vol. VII, a few very minor marginal tears, tiny repaired marginal hole to bb2 in vol. III, vol. IV with minor marginal dampstain, occasional light scattered spotting.) Vols I-VIII uniformly bound in contemporary red morocco, spines with raised bands richly gilt in compartments, lettered in gilt in second and third, gilt turn-ins, blue end-papers, all edges marbled under gilt, blue silk ribbon markers (heavily rubbed and scuffed); vol. IX in contemporary mottled calf, gilt arms to covers, gilt spine, red edges (worn, covers detached). Provenance: volumes in red morocco, Antoine Marie Pâris d'Illins (1746-1809; engraved armorial bookplate signed 'A.P.', his sale:) -- James Edwards, 'Bibliotheca Parisiana', 26 March 1791, lot 601 (annotated catalogue in the Bodleian marks lot as selling for £43); vol. IX in calf with unidentified ducal arms to covers. FIRST EDITION OF THIS MONUMENTAL WORK - THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT A SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTION OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS MADE AT HERCULANEUM during the 18th century, and is the most important source for the development of neo-classical art. Both the finds and information concerning them was jealously guarded to the extent that these descriptive volumes were only presented as gifts by the King of Naples and the Two Sicilies. 'Antoine Marie Pâris d'Illins, a military man, was forced to emigrate in 1792, at the same time as the Marquis de Lafayette's exile and imprisonment because of conflicts with the Revolution. Repatriated by Napoleon, he died as a general of the infantry during the Spanish campaign at Ocana in 1809... It seems very likely that he recognized the danger in which he stood by 1790 and needed not only to raise cash but also to avoid the confiscation of his books and other property' (Milton McC. Gatch 'The Bibliotheca Parisina' in The Library (2011) 12(2): 89-118). Brunet I, 314; Blackmer 37 & 97 (2nd impression); Cicognara 2645; RIBA 112 & 224 (2nd impression); Vinet 1716. (9)

Le Antichitá de Ercolano esposte. Naples: Regia Stamperia, 1754-1792. 9 volumes (including Ottavio Bayardi's Catalogo degli Antichi Monumenti... di Ercolano bound as vol. I), 2° (462 x 353mm; vol. IX 490 x 370mm). Half-titles, titles in red and black (excepting the Catalogo) each with engraved vignette, engraved general title to vol. II, 8 portraits, one double-page map, 605 plates (of 610) of which 5 double-page or folding, approximately 790 text-illustrations and 547 initials (including repeats). (Lacking pl. XXVII from vol. V, pl. XCIII from vol. VII, and pls XXXII-XXXIV in vol. VII, a few very minor marginal tears, tiny repaired marginal hole to bb2 in vol. III, vol. IV with minor marginal dampstain, occasional light scattered spotting.) Vols I-VIII uniformly bound in contemporary red morocco, spines with raised bands richly gilt in compartments, lettered in gilt in second and third, gilt turn-ins, blue end-papers, all edges marbled under gilt, blue silk ribbon markers (heavily rubbed and scuffed); vol. IX in contemporary mottled calf, gilt arms to covers, gilt spine, red edges (worn, covers detached). Provenance: volumes in red morocco, Antoine Marie Pâris d'Illins (1746-1809; engraved armorial bookplate signed 'A.P.', his sale:) -- James Edwards, 'Bibliotheca Parisiana', 26 March 1791, lot 601 (annotated catalogue in the Bodleian marks lot as selling for £43); vol. IX in calf with unidentified ducal arms to covers. FIRST EDITION OF THIS MONUMENTAL WORK - THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT A SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTION OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS MADE AT HERCULANEUM during the 18th century, and is the most important source for the development of neo-classical art. Both the finds and information concerning them was jealously guarded to the extent that these descriptive volumes were only presented as gifts by the King of Naples and the Two Sicilies. 'Antoine Marie Pâris d'Illins, a military man, was forced to emigrate in 1792, at the same time as the Marquis de Lafayette's exile and imprisonment because of conflicts with the Revolution. Repatriated by Napoleon, he died as a general of the infantry during the Spanish campaign at Ocana in 1809... It seems very likely that he recognized the danger in which he stood by 1790 and needed not only to raise cash but also to avoid the confiscation of his books and other property' (Milton McC. Gatch 'The Bibliotheca Parisina' in The Library (2011) 12(2): 89-118). Brunet I, 314; Blackmer 37 & 97 (2nd impression); Cicognara 2645; RIBA 112 & 224 (2nd impression); Vinet 1716. (9)

Details

Le Antichitá de Ercolano esposte. Naples: Regia Stamperia, 1754-1792. 9 volumes (including Ottavio Bayardi's Catalogo degli Antichi Monumenti... di Ercolano bound as vol. I), 2° (462 x 353mm; vol. IX 490 x 370mm). Half-titles, titles in red and black (excepting the Catalogo) each with engraved vignette, engraved general title to vol. II, 8 portraits, one double-page map, 605 plates (of 610) of which 5 double-page or folding, approximately 790 text-illustrations and 547 initials (including repeats). (Lacking pl. XXVII from vol. V, pl. XCIII from vol. VII, and pls XXXII-XXXIV in vol. VII, a few very minor marginal tears, tiny repaired marginal hole to bb2 in vol. III, vol. IV with minor marginal dampstain, occasional light scattered spotting.) Vols I-VIII uniformly bound in contemporary red morocco, spines with raised bands richly gilt in compartments, lettered in gilt in second and third, gilt turn-ins, blue end-papers, all edges marbled under gilt, blue silk ribbon markers (heavily rubbed and scuffed); vol. IX in contemporary mottled calf, gilt arms to covers, gilt spine, red edges (worn, covers detached). Provenance: volumes in red morocco, Antoine Marie Pâris d'Illins (1746-1809; engraved armorial bookplate signed 'A.P.', his sale:) -- James Edwards, 'Bibliotheca Parisiana', 26 March 1791, lot 601 (annotated catalogue in the Bodleian marks lot as selling for £43); vol. IX in calf with unidentified ducal arms to covers.

FIRST EDITION OF THIS MONUMENTAL WORK - THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT A SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTION OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS MADE AT HERCULANEUM during the 18th century, and is the most important source for the development of neo-classical art. Both the finds and information concerning them was jealously guarded to the extent that these descriptive volumes were only presented as gifts by the King of Naples and the Two Sicilies. 'Antoine Marie Pâris d'Illins, a military man, was forced to emigrate in 1792, at the same time as the Marquis de Lafayette's exile and imprisonment because of conflicts with the Revolution. Repatriated by Napoleon, he died as a general of the infantry during the Spanish campaign at Ocana in 1809... It seems very likely that he recognized the danger in which he stood by 1790 and needed not only to raise cash but also to avoid the confiscation of his books and other property' (Milton McC. Gatch 'The Bibliotheca Parisina' in The Library (2011) 12(2): 89-118). Brunet I, 314; Blackmer 37 & 97 (2nd impression); Cicognara 2645; RIBA 112 & 224 (2nd impression); Vinet 1716. (9)

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