Author: Donatus, Alexander:

Title: Roma vetus ac recens utriusque ?dificiis illustrata. In multis locis aucta [?] Editio ultima.

Publication: Amstelaedami [Amsterdam]: prostant apud Janssonio-Waesbergios & Joannem Wolters (Campis typis Caspar 1695.

Description: 4to., pp.[xvi], 356, [xx] + 92 plates, 4 of which folding. Title-page in red and black with engraved vignettes, woodcut initials and endpieces, some illustrations in the text. Page of polyglot instructions to the binder. Ink stamps etc to title, further stamp to margin p.35. A few light stains, short closed tear to folding plates opposite p.87 and p.251, plate opposite p.117 loose, 2H4 creased with ragged fore-edge and long horizontal tear affecting a line of text each side but with no loss, bit of worming to head margin pp.257-65, ink or soot smudge to final page affecting but not obscuring text. Contemporary tan speckled calf, spine heavily gilt, raised bands, gilt borders and cornerpieces, centrepiece with arms of Amersfoot to each board, edges red. Spine label lost, chip to headcap, joints a bit worn, tow paper library labels to upper board, rubbed, edges a bit worn, very good indeed. To title-page, a paper label and two library ink stamps, all crossed through in blue pen. A small illegible ownership inscription in the same blue ink.

Alexander Donatus (Alessandro Donati, 1584-1640) was a Jesuit, antiquarian, poet, and Latin orator. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1600 and taught rhetoric at the Roman College in Rome from 1619 to 1624. His study of the buildings of ancient and modern Rome was first published in Rome in 1633 (8vo.) and 1639 (4to.), with Amsterdam editions following in 1664 (8vo) and 1694 in this 4to printing (the statement of printing is taken from colophon, which is dated 1694). LibraryHub finds few copies in the UK: British Library; National Library of Scotland; Fitzwilliam Museum; Cambridge University Library and Norwich Cathedral.

Bibliography: Spoelder 480 (Amersf. 6)

Reference Number: [55233]

Price: £1250

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