first-edition-of-jacques-philippe-d-orville-s-illustrated-book-of-the-ruins-of-sicily
Lot 4126
First Edition of Jacques Philippe d'Orville's Illustrated Book of the Ruins of Sicily
Lot Details & Additional Photographs
Jacques Philippe d'Orville; Peter Burmann, ed. SICULA, QUIBUS SICILIAE VETERIS RUDERA, ADDITIS ANTIQUITATUM TABULIS, ILLUSTRANTUR. Amsterdam: Apud Gerardum Tielenburg, 1764. First edition. Two parts bound in one volume. Full blind stamped vellum, manuscript and raised bands on spine, speckled edges. Folio; +4 *-5*4 +-2+4 A-2L4 2M2 2N4 2P2, *4 A-D4 E3 F4 G3 H-2L4 2M-2O2 2P-2S4 2T-2V2 2X3 2Y4 2Y*4 2Y*2 2Z2 3A-3D2 3E4-3I4 3K2. With numerous full and double-page plates and (3) folding plates featuring ruins, coins and more; both parts with half-title and title page; with portrait of d'Orville, index, errata, with ornaments. Roman type; text in Latin, with Greek. Cicognara 2689.

16 1/4 x 10 3/4 in.

From the Collection of Professor Roberto Severino, Washington, D.C.

Jacques Philippe d'Orville (Netherlands, 1696-1751) was a scholar and professor who traveled throughout Europe, including a trip to Sicily in the late 1720s. Cicognara calls this book a "bella e accurata edizione" ('beautiful and accurate edition').

Extremely sturdy boards, scuffed with light staining, corners bumped; bookplate on paste-down, minor manuscript on endpapers; pages slightly wavy and lightly toned overall, heavier at a few leaves, preliminaries with small corner burn hole and marks, occasional foxing and light grime; several gatherings with light damp staining and small stains at upper corner and margins; a very good example of this important and well-illustrated hefty volume.