Beschreibung:

ANDROUET DU CERCEAU, Jacques. Livre des edifices antiques Romains . [Paris], 1584.
ANDROUET DU CERCEAU, Jacques. Livre des edifices antiques Romains . [Paris], 1584. 2 o (410 x 289 mm). Letterpress title-page, one leaf dedication and preface. 96 engravings on 48 leaves (plates 62 and 71 cancelled, inlaid into original sheets, sheet five with old repaired tear crossing plate, some occasional pale ink staining and soiling). Contemporary orange vellum. Provenance : acquired from Marlborough Rare Books, 1986. FIRST EDITION of du Cerceau's series of detailed reconstructions of Roman buildings and monuments, and his last known work. Geymüller, Mortimer and Millard all call for 98 engravings on 48 leaves. The present has 96 on 48 leaves, perhaps as a result of the cancelling of plates 62 and 71, and therefore this is perhaps an intermediate issue. "This comprehensive guide to the architecture of Rome is not just imaginary, but the reproduction of material from a contemporary Italian architectural study. In the preface, Androuet du Cerceau writes of the work of a 'knowledgeable person' (Pirro Ligorio who by much reading and research into antiquity was able to prepare a map which represented Rome at the time of its greatest magnificence, and that he (Androuet du Cerceau) had enlarged the buildings included in the map so that all interest in antiquity would find here beautiful forms and adornments to aid in their own 'inventions,' and so that the ancient buildings would be immortalized" (Millard French 10). Berlin Kat. 1852; Guymüller, pp. 306-307; Mortimer French 24.