Marliani, Bartolomeo

folio (300 x 202mm.), woodcut initials, woodcut maps and illustrations (a few page edges folded in to avoid trimming), woodcut printer's device at end, straight-grained red morocco gilt by Bozerian, with his name at foot of spine, spine gilt in compartments, burgundy watered silk endleaves, gilt edges, small hole in a5 with loss of 2 letters, extremities very slightly rubbed

William Beckford (1759-1844), Hamilton Palace sale, part 2, 11 December 1882, lot 2205, bought by Bain for stock for £3 5s, with extract from catalogue pasted to inside front cover; Archibald, 5th earl of Rosebery (1847-1929), armorial bookplate, sale of Beckford books from the Rosebery Library, removed from Barnbougle Castle, Sotheby's, 27 October 1975, lot 207, £380

Censimento 16 CNCE 34273; Mortimer, Harvard Italian 284; cf. BAL RIBA 2038 (expanded edition of c. 1553 with same colophon); Culot, Bozerian roulettes 19, 42, palettes 3, 12, signatures 1

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."

THE BECKFORD-ROSEBERY COPY of Marliani's book on classical Rome, which had first been published in 1534 by Antonio Blado, but without illustrations; this is the first illustrated edition. Marliani, an antiquarian, had been present in Rome at the discovery of the Laocoon statue in 1520; the illustration of it in this book is one of the earliest. The double-page map is signed by Giovanni Battista Palatino, a renowned calligrapher.

There are several issues of this edition. This copy has L5 with the privilege, indicating an early printing.