Bayardi, Prodromo delle antichità d´Ercolano, Naples, 1752, 5 volumes, Neapolitan armorial calf gilt

Ottavio Antonio Bayardi

Prodromo delle antichità d'Ercolano. Naples: Regale stamperia Palatina, 1752

5 volumes, 4to (227 x 158mm.), half-titles, title to vol.1 printed in red and black with engraved illustration, woodcut headpieces and initials, engraved illustrations, vol.1: 6 engraved plates (4 folding), vol.2: 1 folding plate, vol.3: 2 folding plates, vol.4: engraved plate, vol.5: 1 folding engraved plate, contemporary Neapolitan calf gilt with the arms of the dedicatee, Charles king of the Two Sicilies, spines gilt in compartments, red speckled edges, bookplate removed from vol.1, occasional light foxing or browning, 15M1 with tear at foot touching text, bindings somewhat rubbed, some damage and repairs to ends of spines

This is the first production from the Royal Press in Naples which was established to disseminate the discoveries made at Herculaneum, excavated from 1738 on the orders of the King of the Two Sicilies. Many copies of this work were bound in this style; see British Library c.67.h.11 for another example. 

PROVENANCE

parts 1 & 2: Edmund Burke, with his Beaconsfield stamp at head of title-pages (he purchased Beaconsfield in 1768), sale, Evans, 7 November 1833, lot 130, 4s to Daniells; parts 2 & 4: Juan Pedro Aladro y Kastriota (1845-1914, pretender to the throne of Albania), armorial bookplates