Palladio, I quattro libri dell'architettura, Venice, 1570 [i.e. 1768], contemporary carta rustica, uncut

PALLADIO, ANDREA. I quattro libri dell'architettura di Andrea Palladio. Ne' quali, dopo un breve trattato de' cinque ordini, et di quelli avertimenti, che sono piu necessarii nell fabricare; si tratta delle case private, delle vie, de i ponti, delle piazze, de i xisti, et de' tempii. Venice: Domenico de' Franceschi, 1570 [i.e. Giambattista Pasquali, 1768]

A CRISP AND UNCUT COPY of this famous facsimile of the first edition of Palladio. This edition was created by architectural historian Tommaso Temanza and Joseph Smith (ca. 1673-1770), the British Consul in Venice, using engraved copies of the original woodcuts and designed as a homage to Palladio rather than with any intent to deceive.

4 parts in one volume, folio (353 x 262 mm), uncut. Roman type, 57 lines plus headline. Collation: *² A-Q² X¹ A-T² *² A-L² X² A-Z² Aa-Kk²: 165 leaves. Engraved title-pages and 218 architectural engravings, of which 158 full-page. (Faint dampstains to lower third of leaves in final gathering and to inner margins of parts of Books III and IV, occasional slight marginal staining.)

Binding: Contemporary carta rustica with patterned paper spine (364 x 269 mm), deckle edges, housed in a modern wooden drop-backed box covered in patterned paper and with a gilt-stamped cloth back. (Covers with large, faint water spots, lower cover with one-inch tear to foredge, paper slightly torn over spine bands.)

Acquisition: Purchased in 2019 from Philip J. Pirages, McMinnville, Oregon. References: BAL RIBA 2390; Edit16 72746