99 pp. 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed paste-paper boards, spine gilt, red morocco lettering-piece on spine. Paris: Joullain, 1778.

The uncommon sale catalogue, fully priced throughout and with buyers’ names, of a noteworthy collection devoted primarily to Italian art and sculpture. Bourlat de Montredon (d. 1777), was an influential amateur and collector who resided in Constantinople for forty years.

The catalogue thoroughly describes 695 lots, many of which are composed of numerous items. Lots 579-671 are Bourlat de Montredon’s impressive group of books of prints, mostly focused on the architecture and decorative arts of Italy, including a number of works by Piranesi. The descriptions... More

Engraved vignette on title, 19 finely engraved plates (some folding), one engraved headpiece & several woodcut diagrams in the text. 12, 116, 120, [2] pp. Large 4to (245 x 210 mm.), cont. paste-paper boards (slightly worn), red morocco lettering-piece on spine. Frankenthal & Mannheim: C.F. Schwan, 1779.

First edition of an uncommon history and examination of ancient warfare with a series of illustrations of formations, famous battles, and many types of siege craft. Baumgärtner (1743-1809), historian of classical Greece and Rome and civil servant, wrote several works on ancient art in addition to military history.

In this book, he expounds on and compares the military traditions of the Greeks and Romans. He exhaustively describes their tactics, formations, uniforms and their iconography, weapons, siege techniques, siege weapons, etc. There is also in-depth discussion of military leaders and what made them successful. The illustrations of battles, such as the one showing a phalanx (pl. XI), are quite dramatic. More

Title within finely engraved & elaborate architectural border and 27 engraved plates (four double-page or folding). Collation as in Mortimer: “four preliminary leaves, one additional leaf of printed text (leaf [32]), & 27 engraved plates on leaves 5-31, 33-36.” Large folio, cont. speckled calf (joints a little cracked but strong), double gilt fillet round sides, spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. From the second leaf: “Roma, In Casa Nostra,” 1559.

Fifth edition (1st ed.: 1552) of this important work in the study of classical architecture and one of the earliest architectural treatises illustrated with copper plates, in place of woodcuts and printed text. The... More

2 p.l., 127 pp. 12mo (153 x 100 mm.), cont. pink paste-paper boards, green morocco lettering-piece on spine. Paris: L’Imprimerie des Sciences et Arts, n.d. [but ca. 1802].

The catalogue for a controversial exhibition of antiquities confiscated from Italy. According to the bibliographical research of Jean Joseph Marquet de Vasselot (see below), and Etienne Michon in his “Bibliographie des Catalogues du Musée des Antiques du Louvre” (1914-15), the present livret is a later printing of a catalogue first issued in 1800 at the time of the exhibition’s opening. The present book, like all five preceding printings, is strangely numbered starting with no... More

184 pp. 12mo (155 x 95 mm.), cont. pink wrappers, label in manuscript on spine, stitched as issued. Paris: L. P. Dubray, 1811.

[with]:

(—). Supplément à la Notice des Antiques du Musée Napoléon, contenant l’indication des Monuments exposés dans la Salle des Fleuves. 1 p.l., v, 24 pp. 12mo (150 x 95 mm.), cont. pink wrappers, title in manuscript on spine, stitched as issued. Paris: L. P. Dubray, 1811. More

1 p.l., 63 pp. (i.e., pp. 241-301). Large 8vo (250 x 163 mm.), orig. orange printed wrappers (spine a little rubbed), leaves uncut. Besançon: Jacques & Demontrond, 1916.

The scarce offprint, with new pagination, of Michon’s groundbreaking critical bibliography of early exhibition catalogues published by the Musée des Antiques. Michon (1865-1939), curator of antiquities at the Louvre and respected connoisseur, published two important catalogues on the Louvre’s holdings of antiquities. He also made numerous acquisitions of artifacts now considered foundational to the Louvre’s collections.

This work exhaustively examines 22 catalogues from 1800 to 1816. Michon undertakes a bibliographic survey... More