Lauro, Antiquae urbis splendor, Rome, 1641, limp vellum gilt with Chigi insignia

Lauro, Giacomo. Antiquae Urbis splendor hoc est praecipua eiusdem templa, amphitheatra, theatra, circi, naumachiae, arcus triumphales, mausolea aliaque sumptuosiora aedificia pompae item triumphalis et colossaearum imaginum descriptio. Rome: Andrea Fei, 1641 (parts dated 1612, 1613, 1615, 1628)

A comprehensive work on ancient Roman buildings in the city of Rome, which was first issued in 1612 with 99 plates and subsequently reissued over the next few decades with varying contents (see Ashby's comprehensive description of editions). The plates show reconstructions of the various buildings and gardens, returning them to their "ancient splendour"; the 1637 and 1641 editions were issued by the Swiss Guard Giovanni Alto, at which time the engravings were numbered. The trilingual captions were added to the 1625 edition for the use of pilgrims to the city for the Jubilee that year.

The library of Alexander VII (Fabio Chigi) was renowned for its bindings made by the Andreoli workshop in Rome, but we have not been able to make a secure identification of this bindery.

4 parts in one volume, oblong folio (229 x 345 mm). Roman and italic type, parallel text in Italian, French and German. Engraved title-page (plate no.1), engraved portrait of Urban VIII, engraved dedication to Sigismund III (plate no.2), engraved portrait of Sigismund (plate no.3), engraved view of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania council chamber, letterpress letter to the reader, letterpress title dated 1641, engravings/engraved plates numbered 4 to 166 (including section titles), with three unnumbered plates towards end (of the church of Loreto, the "toro Farnese" sculpture, and the Laocoon statue), final engraved index leaf. (Occasional browning and light foxing.)

binding: Contemporary Roman limp vellum gilt (236 x 360 mm), covers with a wide gilt border surrounding a panel of small oak tree and mountain stamps (symbols of the Chigi family) with curling gilt corner-pieces, flat spine gilt, gilt edges, stubs from four pairs of red silk ties. (Binding slightly stained and creased.)

provenance: A member of the Chigi family, symbols (an oak tree and six hills surmounted by a star) on binding, plausibly the book collector Fabio Chigi, the future Alexander VII (1599-1667). acquisition: Purchased in 2019 from Mayfair Rare Books, London. references: Thomas Ashby, "Un incisore antiquario del Seicento", La Bibliofilia, XXVIII, 453-460, edition G; Rossetti 6080; cf. BAL RIBA 1780