Libri Quattro Le Antichita Della Citta di Roma

A very scarce study on the antiquities of Rome by Bernardo Gamucci. The first edition of this work. A very early, fully illustrated guide book to Rome. Collated complete. This copy belonged to Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun (1655-1716). With his signature to the rear pastedown. Fletcher was a Scottish bibliophile, author and friend of noted philosopher John Locke. His library amassed 6,000 books and he spent much of his life visiting bookshops in search of works of interest across a wide range of subjects. Leaves Bb3-Bb4 (197-200pp) are misbound. 199-200 misbound between pages 2-3, 197-198 misbound between pages 6-7. With seventeenth century endpapers. In the original Latin. Illustrated, with one folding plate and thirty-eight woodcut illustrations. Woodcuts are after drawings by Giovanni Antonio Dosio, an Italian architect and sculptor. Dosio first arrived in Rome in 1548 where he joined workshops by Raffaello da Montelupo and Guglielmo della Porta. Dosio's architectural drawings are original works rather than copies. Campbell notes that they are 'mostly orthogonal, but occasionally perspectival'. To the foot of the colophon there is a note 'Relic A Castres 10br. 1653. par Des Bords'. Very little is known of the author, Bernardo Gamucci. To the preface of this work he is referred to as an architect and antiquarian from San Gimignano. Dosio was also from San Gimignano and the dedication of this work to the Grand Duke of Florence further links the Tuscan origin of the collaborators. Gamucci was commissioned to write this work by the publisher Giovanni Varisco. It was drafted from accounts of ancient and modern authors as well as Gamucci's own investigations. (Blennow) It was unusual in the sixteenth century to have illustrated guidebooks to Rome. An illustrated guidebook would be a costly endeavour which makes this work an unusual and finely produced work for the time. A very smart crisp copy of this very scarce guidebook to Rome. In seventeenth century vellum. Externally, very smart with just some minor handling marks to boards. Light rubbing to the extremities. Some minor loss to front edge of front board and to the tail of front joint. Title of the work in ink to the spine. Prior owner's inscription to the rear pastedown. Internally, firmly bound. Binder's note to the colophon. Copperplate signature to the title page and inscriptions to the verso of front endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright. The odd light spot to pages. A bright crisp copy. Near Fine.…