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 about Catalogue d’une belle Collection de Tableaux, Dessins, Estampes, Sculptures en Terre cuite...

22 pp., 1 leaf of “Approbation.” Small 8vo (160 x 95 mm.), 19th-century calf-backed marbled boards (joints a little rubbed), red morocco lettering-piece on spine. Paris: Prault & Barrois, 1748.

A rare sale catalogue of the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Gallic antiquities amassed by Valois (1671-1747), an early connoisseur of ancient objects, who was named antiquaire du roi. This was one of Gersaint’s final sales.

“Valois was the son and nephew of great 17th-century scholars, Adrien and Henri de Valois; antiquary of the king and pensionnaire de l’Académie des inscriptions, he accumulated sculptures, ancient bronze and more than 6000 medals, many from the age of... More about Catalogue des Bronzes, et autres Curiosités antiques, tant Egyptiennes que Grecques, Romaines...

Finely engraved coat-of-arms of Roger de Bellegarde on recto of second leaf, one engraved folding plate (lightly dampstained), & several woodcuts in the text. 10 p.l., 176, [14] pp., one leaf of errata. Small 4to, 18th-cent. polished speckled calf (minor dampstaining & browning), double gilt fillet round sides, spine gilt in compartments incorporating a gilt stamp of a giraffe. Dijon: C. Guyot, 1621.

First edition of this uncommon book describing one of the most sensational archeological discoveries of the 16th century. In this work, Guénébauld (d. ca. 1630), a physician in Dijon who had studied medicine in Padua and Rome, describes his discovery in 1598... More about Le Réveil de Chyndonax Prince des Vacies Druydes celtiques diionois, avec la saincteté,...

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 about Libro d’Antonio Labacco appartenente a l’Architettura nel qual si figurano alcune notabili...

1 p.l., 74 pp. Small 8vo, attractive modern paste-paper boards. Stockholm: C. Delen, 1806.

The first catalogue of the collections of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts, founded by Gustavus III in 1773, including the library and works of arts. The library contained some 600 titles covering architecture, the fine arts, aesthetics, gardening, archaeology, perspective, etc, and included many scarce English works by Chambers, Batty Langley, Moxon, Malton, Halfpenny, Robert Morris, etc. The contents of tract volumes are listed in full.

Fine copy and rare. More about Förteckning på Kgl. Målare- och Bildhuggare-Akademiens samlingar af Böcker, Estamper,...