Scamozzi, Vincenzo

2 parts in one volume, folio (345 x 227mm.), 2 additional engraved title-pages, woodcut printer's device on letterpress title-pages, woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, full- or double-page woodcut or engraved illustrations (all by Scamozzi, except one which is thought to be by Titian or his grandson Tizianello), with both blank leaves, contemporary Venetian limp vellum gilt with arabesque tooling, flat spine gilt with later red paper lettering-piece, gilt edges, in modern folding box, final leaf (containing register) in facsimile, G3-4 in part 2 transposed, some show-through from engravings, binding slightly rubbed and soiled, lacking both ties

Go[--], printed label on inside front cover

BAL RIBA 2917

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

FIRST EDITION of Scamozzi's detailed architectural treatise, which contains books 1-3 and 6-8 of his projected ten books; the remaining books were not completed before Scamozzi's death in 1616. It was published at the author's expense and each book was dedicated to a different potential patron in the hope of financial support, which does indeed seem to have been successful with Cosimo II de' Medici, the dedicatee of book 6.

The prefatory notes to the reader indicate the haste with which some of the text issued from the press, and the corrector of the text (and presumably the compiler of the indexes), Antonio Ramiro, is named, unusually, at the end of each part.