Le Vestigia e Rarita di Roma Antica Ricercate, e Spiegate da Francesco de Ficoroni - Aggregato Alla Reale Accademia di Francia - Libro Primo - Dedicato Alla Santita di Nostro Signore Benedetto XIV (+ Libro Secondo) [TWO VOLUMES in the ONE BOOK]

TWO VOLUMES bound together in the ONE BOOK. FIRST EDITION, published 1744. Numerous engravings throughout (many full page), plus 4 foldout plates. Text in Italian. Contains two title pages. First title page, as per listed title, printed in black & red. Title page followed by dedication/preface (4pp), indice (6pp) [with errata], Le Vestiga di Roma Antica Libro Primo (p.1-195), followed by SECOND title page: Le Singolarita di Roma Moderna - Ricercate, e Spiegate da Franceso de Ficoroni - Aggregato Alla Reale Accademia di Francia (printed in black), indice (6pp) [with errata], Le Singolarita di Roma Moderna - Libro Secondo (p.1-77). Manuscript lettering to spine: "Ficoroni - Roma Antica Moder". Francesco de Ficoroni (1664-1747) was "an Italian archaeologist, connoisseur and antiquarian in Rome closely involved with the antiquities trade. He was the author of numerous publications on ancient Roman sculpture and antiquities, guides to the monuments of Rome and the city's ancient topography, and on ancient Greek and Roman theatre and theatrical masks, among other subjects. For his antiquarian works he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. His complementary volumes on ancient and modern Rome (1744) remained in print long after his death: Thomas Jefferson purchased both volumes while he was abroad in 1785-89". Large format heavy volume. Bound in FULL VELLUM, marbled edges to book block, manuscript lettering to spine. With former owner's contemporary ink signature & date ("J. Church. Jan: 11, 1752") to first title page & front pastedown, plus second former owner's bookplate affixed to front pastedown, being Hollywood film director Alexis Thurn-Taxis (1892-1979). Light stain running through lower quarter portion of book throughout, boards mildly soiled & worn, chip to middle of spine, otherwise a nice clean tight solid vellum-bound copy of a scarce book in first edition. 195pp + 77pp. RARE. …