Descrizione

PAOLI, Paolo Antonio – Avanzi delle antichità esistenti a Pozzuoli Cuma e Baja. Antiquitatum Puteolis Cumis Baiis existentium reliquiae. (Naples, s.n.t., 1768).

Folio (450 x 325 mm.), contemporary speckled calf, gilt spine with raised bands (spine and hinges carefully restored), red edges, flyleaves and pastedowns in cailloutè paper, a very fresh, bright copy printed in light green laid paper. Engraved half-title, engraved frontispiece and dedicatory leaf (both by Giov. Volpato), a spectacular quadruple folding engr. plate of 450×1355 mm., depicting the seaside view of Pozzuoli, all the text engraved in Italian and Latin on double column, altogether ff. numb. 36, (and 2 nn. of index) of text, and 69 (numb. 68, but the pl. 42 is a ‘bis’) engraved plates, including the engr. front. etc. at beginning, as editorially counted.

First and sole edition of this splendid work dedicated to the roman ruins of Pozzuoli and its surroundings, magnificently illustrated by a gallery of finely engraved and detailed plates – which are greatly influenced by Piranesi – among which the beautiful “View of the Pozzuoli Coast” more than a meter long and folded several times. The other plates depict geographical maps, views, cross-sections, plans, interiors of ruins animated by several kinds of people, peasants, tourists, etc, in a style between Vasi and Piranesi, the leading artists of the time in this field. Many monuments were illustrated here for the first time. Due to the high number of engravings and the quality of the paper used, and the cost of printing, this work was edited in a limited number of copies and sold at the price of 15 Neapolitan ducats, quite high for the time. Brunet I, 314; Cicognara 2692; Graesse I, 146. Berlin Kat. 1895.