Descrizione

GORI, ANTONIO FRANCESCO – Dactyliotheca Smithiana. Venezia, Giambattista Pasquali, 1767.

Folio (332 x 235 mm.) 2 volumes in a handsome speckled calf, spine with raised bands, richly gilt in compartments, dentelles on edges, flyleaves and pastedowns in marbled paper; a clean, bright copy with wide margins (upper corner of rear cover in vol. I a bit stained), with a 18th cent. engraved bookplate. Each volume with engraved frontispiece, the 1st volume with an engraved dedication to King George III, 1 plate depicting a sculpture of Neptune, 4 headings, 2 tailpieces and 4 initials, allof them engraved by G.B. Brustolon, pp. [4], xix, [1 b.], 97, 1 bl., lxxxviii, and 100 engraved plates numb. I-C, mostly engraved by Brustolon. . Vol. II: pp. [2], 3, [1 bl.], pp. lxxxi-ccxcviii, 2 blanks and an engraved plate by Brustolon, depicting Hercules.

First and sole edition of this superb catalogue of the sculptured gems and glyptics in the private collection of Joseph Smith (1682-1770), consul at Venice, collector, and art dealer. Smith had provided financial backing for the press of Giambattista Pasquali, the printer both of this work and of the catalogue of Smith’s library. After Smith had financial problems in the 1750s, the earl of Bute helped negotiate the purchase of Smith’s library, gems and paintings for the young George III, which were acquired in 1762. In some copies was added an engraved portrait of King George III not present here, and i.e. not even in the earl of Bute copy, sold by Sotheby’s in 2016. Brunet II, 1671; Graesse III, 120; Cicognara 2870: “Cento tavole presentano le gemme illustrate … Consacrato e il secondo tomo alla storia Glittografica nella quale sono raccolte molte e preziose notizie degli artefici”; Sinkankas, Gemology, 2465.