Delle magnificenze di Roma antica e moderna.
Roma: Imprints of various publishers (Chracas, Barbiellini, and Pagliarini), 1747-1761, issued by Mariano Vasi, ca. 1786.
Price: $48,000.00
Oblong folio: 415 x 295 mm. 10 volumes bound as 5. (For full collations, paginations, and plate counts for each of the ten volumes, see Part III below.)
An extremely fine set of these celebrated Roman views drawn and engraved by Giuseppe Vasi, from whom Piranesi learned the art of etching. Bound in original, uniform carta rustica bindings covered with patterned paper. Extremely fresh copies of all 10 books, with broad margins. The plates are all printed on thick paper; the impressions are rich and sharp; on the text leaves, the impressions left by the type are not only easily discerned by touch but are also clearly visible.
Like the Getty copy, which is also uniformly bound in patterned boards, and the British Architectural Library copy (bound for the library in 1788), this set is a mixed issue, issued ca. 1786 by Vasi’s son, Mariano, after Vasi’s death (1782). It comprises the unsold sheets of the second edition of Vol. I (printed after 1765, ca. 1770), and reprintings, with minor changes, of Vols. II-X. The set is complete with all 200 numbered engraved plates (as called for) and contains 8 additional plates found in some -but not all- copies (for a full accounting, see Section II below.)
All of the volumes have their original publisher information and dates on the title pages. However, Plate 61 from Book IV (first printed in 1754) shows the obelisk at the Piazza Quirinale, where it was erected between 1783 and 1786. A “terminus ante quem” is provided by Plate 23 in Book II (first printed in 1752), which shows an empty plinth in Piazza di Monte Citorio, where an obelisk would later (1789-1792) be erected and restored (later 18th c. editions of the “Magnificenze” show the obelisk in place.) In addition, Plate 41 in Book III (first printed in 1753) shows the Basilica di S. Pietro in Vaticano prior to the addition of Valadier’s clocks (added in 1790) which were added in a later state of this etching (See RIBA, Vol. IV, p. 2176, col. 2).
The second edition of Volume I was published after 1765 (though the title preserves the original 1747 date), possibly because copies of the first printing had been exhausted by that date. The second edition includes elements that unify the 10 Volumes: “a half-title, 'Monumenti sagri e profani delle quattro eta di Roma ...' and a new address to the reader, which speaks of 'dieci libri' rather than of a work 'divisa in due tomi' and refers to the large map of Rome which Vasi published in 1765.”(RIBA-BAL)
After Vasi’s death, his son Mariano took over the firm and issued unsold copies of the “Magnificenze”. In this set, a printed slip pasted over the imprint in Vol. I directs the buyer to the Vasi family’s print shop, where copies of the book could be purchased in (patterned) carta rustica bindings, “Si trova dall’Autore nella Casa Nuova di Barazzi, presso la Strada della Croce, secondo piano, al prezzo di dieci zecchini, legato in rustico.”. This set clearly remained in inventory from 1786 until 1791, when Mariano relocated the family business.
Section II: The plates:
The set is complete with all 200 numbered engraved plates (as called for), and 8 additional plates found in some copies, as follows: "Obelisco dall’Egitto portato in Roma da Cesare Augusto" at p. xii in Vol. II; "Palazzo Augustale detto Maggiore" at p. viii in Vol. IV; 5 plates in Vol. VII, as follows: “Chiesa di s. Bernardo alle Terme …”(at p. xxx), “Ingresso alla Chiesa di s. Prassede …”(at p. xxxii), “Chiesa di s. Maria alle Fornaci …”(at p. xxxvi), “Portaria del Convento dei PP. Minori Osservanti …”(at p. xlii), and “Chiesa di S. Andrea Apost.lo”(at p. lx); and 1 plate in Vol. IX, “Prospetto verso Mezzo giorno del Collegio di Propaganda Fide” (at p. xvi). Note: In Vol. V, 6 of the numbered plates in the sequence of 200 are printed on text leaves, as always.
For a full listing of the subjects of all of the plates, see “Early printed books 1478-1840. Catalogue of the British Architectural Library Early Imprints Collection” (RIBA-BAL), Vol. IV, nos. 3389-3398
Vasi's signature appears on all plates as draughtsman and engraver, with a few exceptions: the frontispiece of Bk. I is signed 'Caval. Sebastian Conca inven. Giuseppe Vasi incise'; plate 54 is unsigned; plates 58, 85, 86, 94, 97, 100-140 are signed as only etched by him; and plates 162, 165, 166, 170-172 are signed 'G. Vasi' simply. Of the 35 in-text illustrations (which include a sketch-map of Rome in Book I and two plans in Book X) twenty-seven are signed as drawn or etched by Vasi and eight are unsigned. The ten title-page vignettes are all unsigned. The text in Vol. I was written by Giuseppe Bianchini (1704-1764), that of Vol. II by an unknown author, and that of the remaining eight volumes by Vasi himself.
Vasi devotes each book to a particular aspect of Rome: 1. Gates and walls; 2. Piazzas, obelisks, columns &c.; 3. Basilicas and ancient churches; 4. Palaces and streets; 5. Bridges and buildings on the Tiber; 6. Parish churches; 7. Conventi and clergy houses; 8. Monasteries for women; 9. Colleges, hospitals and pious foundations; 10. Villas and gardens.
Part III. Collation of the 10 volumes:
Vol. I. Libro primo che contiene le porte e mura di Roma […]. In Roma, nella stamperia del Chracas presso S. Marco al Corso, 1747. [with a pasted slip: “Si trova dall’Autore nella Casa Nuova di Barazzi, presso la Strada della Croce, secondo piano, al prezzo di dieci zecchini, legato in rustico.”]
Engraved dedication leaf, engraved frontispiece, [4], LXXII, [2] letterpress pages, including half-title, title-page, and index leaf; 20 added etched plates numbered 1-20. There are an additional 6 etchings in the text. The letterpress lvs. have printed signature marks.
(Vol. I): occhietto, titolo, dedica incisa, antiporta incisa, LXXII pp., 1 c. (indice), 20 tavv. numerate 1-20 fuori testo –
Vol. II. Libro secondo, che contiene le piazze principali di Roma con obelischi, colonne, ed altri ornamenti […]. In Roma, nella stamperia di Apollo, presso gli eredi Barbiellini, 1752
[I-II], III-LII, [2] letterpress pages, including title and index leaf. 20 added etched plates numbered 21-40, and an additional unnumbered plate at p. xii. There are an additional 6 etchings in the text. The letterpress lvs. do not have printed signature marks.
(Vol. II): [I-II], III-LII, [2] pp., 1 c. (p. “LXXXIX”, con sonetto Per la nascita del Regio Infante D. Filippo), 20 tavv. numerate 21-40 e 1 non numerata (Obelisco dall’Egitto portato in Roma da Cesare Augusto) fuori testo –
Vol. III. Libro terzo, che contiene le basiliche e chiese antiche di Roma dedicate alla santità […]. In Roma, nella stamperia di Apollo, presso gli eredi Barbiellini, 1753
[I-II], III-L letterpress pages, including title and index leaf (last page correctly numbered “LII”); 20 added etched plates numbered 41-60. Plate 41 in 1st state (see RIBA, p. 2167, col. 2). There are an additional 6 etchings in the text. The letterpress lvs. do not have printed signature marks.
(Vol. III): [I-II], III-L pp., 20 tavv. numerate 41-60 fuori testo –
Vol. IV. Libro quarto che contiene i palazzi e le vie più celebri di essa […]. In Roma, nella stamperia di Niccolò, e Marco Pagliarini mercanti di libri a Pasquino, 1754
[I-II], III-LII letterpress pages, including title and index leaf; 20 added etched plates numbered 61-80, with an additional unnumbered plate at p. viii. Plate 61 is in second state, with the obelisk erected in 1786 (RIBA, p. 2168, col. 2). The letterpress lvs. have printed signature marks.
(Vol. IV): [I-II], III-LII pp., 20 tavv. numerate 61-80 e una non numerata (Palazzo Augustale detto Maggiore) fuori testo –
Vol. V. Libro quinto, che contiene i ponti, e le vedute sul Tevere […]. In Roma, nella stamperia degli eredi Barbiellini mercanti di libri a Pasquino, 1754.
[I-IV], V-XLVIII letterpress pages, including title, dedication, and index leaf; 20 etched plates numbered 81-100, of which 14 are on separate sheets while the other 6 (nos. 84, 89, 93, 95, 98, and 99) are printed on text pages. Etching 93 is NOT numbered in pen, as it is in most copies. Plate 82 is in 2nd state, with the addition of a carriage (RIBA, p. 2169, col. 2). There are an additional 9 etchings in the text. The letterpress lvs. do not have printed signature marks.
(Vol. V): [I-IV], V-XLVIII pp., 20 tavv. numerate 81-100 di cui 14 a piena pagina fuori testo e 6 più piccole inserite nelle pagine di testo alle pagine 84, 89, 93, 95, 98, e 99 –
Vol. VI. Libro sesto che contiene la chiese parrocchiali […]. In Roma, nella stamperia di Niccolò, e Marco Pagliarini mercanti di libri a Pasquino, 1756.
[I-VI], VII-LIV letterpress pages, including title, dedication, preface, and index leaf; 20 etched plates numbered 101-120. The letterpress lvs. have printed signature marks.
(Vol. VI): [6], VII-LIV pp., 20 tavv. numerate 101-120 fuori testo –
Vol VII. Libro settimo che contiene i conventi e case dei chierici regolari […]. In Roma, nella stamperia di Niccolò, e Marco Pagliarini mercanti di libri a Pasquino, 1756.
[I-VI], VII-LXXV [1] letterpress pages, including title, preface, dedication, and index leaf; 20 etched plates numbered 121-140, and 5 additional unnumbered plates at pages xxx, xxxii, xxxvi, xlii, and lx. There are an additional 6 etchings in the text. The letterpress lvs. have printed signature marks. With cancel slips on pp. xxxi and lvii.
(Vol VII): [I-VI], VII-LXXV, [1] pp., 20 tavv. numerate 121-140 e una non numerata dopo p. 50 fuori testo, più 5 tavole extra alla pagine xxx, xxxii, xxxvi, xlii, and lx. –
Vol. VIII. Libro ottavo che contiene i monasteri e conservatorj di donne […]. In Roma, nella stamperia di Niccolò e Marco Pagliarini mercanti di libri a Pasquino, 1758.
[I-VI], VII-XLVIII letterpress pages, including title, dedication, preface, and index leaves; 20 etched plates numbered 141-160. There are an additional 2 etchings in the text. The letterpress lvs. have printed signature marks.
(Vol. VIII): [I-VI], VII-XLVIII pp., 20 tavv. numerate 141-160 fuori testo –
Vol. IX. Libro nono che contiene i collegj, spedali, e luoghi pii […]. In Roma, nella stamperia di Niccolò, e Marco Pagliarini, 1759.
[I-VI], VII-LII letterpress pages, including title, preface, dedication and index leaf; 20 etched plates numbered 161-180, and an additional unnumbered plate at p. xvi. The letterpress lvs. have printed signature marks.
(Vol. IX): [I-VI], VII-LII pp., 20 tavv. numerate 161-180, più una tavola extra tra le pp. xvi-xvii -
Vol. X. Libro decimo che contiene le ville e giardini più rimarchevoli […]. In Roma, nella stamperia di Niccolò e Marco Pagliarini mercanti di libri a Pasquino, 1761.
[2], [I-VI], VII-XLVIII letterpress pages, including title, dedication, preface, 1 unsigned leaf (“Insigni e chiarissimi mecenati dell’opera”) before p. vii, and index leaves; 20 etched plates numbered 181-200. There are an additional 5 etchings in the text. The etching on p. xxxi has been pasted over another impression, erroneously printed, of the etching for p. xlii. The letterpress lvs. have printed signature marks.
(Vol. X): [2], [I-VI], VII-XLVIII pp., 20 tavv. numerate 181-200.
Early printed books 1478-1840. Catalogue of the British Architectural Library Early Imprints Collection (RIBA-BAL), Vol. IV, nos. 3389-3398. Millard, Mark J. Millard Architectural, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, IV (2000), 141. Cicognara, 3897. Berlin katalog, 1880. Schudt 306. Brunet V, 1098; Luisa Scalabroni, Giuseppe Vasi (1710-1782) (Rome, 1981), 57-87