Exquisitely Bound For the King of Naples and the Two Sicilies
The Copy of the Dedicatee - Charles III - King of Spain
A Foundation Study of Pompeii and Herculaneum
Bayardi, Ottavio Antonio. Prodromo Delle Antichita d' Ercolano Alla Maesta del Re Delle Due Sicilie Carlo Infante di Spagna, Duca Di Parma, Piacenza, &c. &c. (Napoli: Nella Regale Stamperia Palatina, 1752) Parts one and two in two volumes. First Edition WITH EXCEPTIONAL AND REGAL PROVENANCE, bound for presentation for CHARLES III OF SPAIN, also from the library of William Foyle, with his Beleigh Abbey Library plate and as well, of Emanuel, Conte de Nay et de Richecourt with his engraved 18th century armorial plate. Illustrated title-page printed in black and red and with an engraved medallion portrait of the author, 7 engraved plates, most of which folding, illustrations within the text, half titles 4to (220 by 159mm), MAGNIFICENTLY BOUND FOR PRESENTATION. AN EXQUISITE BINDING CREATED FOR THE DEDICATEE, Carlo VII, King of Naples and the two Sicilies and later CHARLES III, KING OF SPAIN in full contemporary Neapolitan red morocco with fine roll-tooled borders of a lattice ornament and palm with scallop shells, arabesques and fleur-de-lis around the central arms of Carlo VII all in gilt extra, the pines with raised bands creating intricately gilt tooled compartments, the uppermost containing a central gilt crown and three others with a fine large central fleur-de-lis, gilt lettered in the remaining two compartments, the end-leaves are floral gilt and green emblazoned, paste-downs depicting oriental figures, some on elephants, with extensive vines and birds, all accomplished on handmade papers with gilt and green presswork, all edges finely gilt. xlviii, 520; 521-1048. A very beautiful set, finely preserved. Only the most minor evidence of age to the text block, the regal bindings extremely well preserved with only a touch of expected wear and mellowing and small bit of expert and discrete restoration to the very tips of the spines.
BOUND FOR PRESENTATION BY CHARLES III, KING OF SPAIN, King of NAPLES, the two Sicilies and the DEDICATEE. This is Bayari’s preliminary work on the antiquities discovered of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum (Ercolano). It was during Charles’ reign as King of Naples that the two ancient cities were rediscovered. The king encouraged the excavations and was informed about the findings even after moving to Spain. The discovery of these cities, which had been buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D., was the most important archeological discovery in Italy for many, many years. This work, beautifully printed with the type once belonging to the Prince of Sansevero’s, private press, forms the preliminary body of work for what would become Bayardi’s extensive and erudite study famously printed in folio in nine volumes from 1755 to 1792. Brunet i, 314; Cicognara 2649 |
