Beschreibung:

Hamilton (Sir William & Pierre Francois Hugues d'Hancarville). Collection of Etruscan, Greek and Roman Antiquities from the Cabinet of the Hon. ble Wm Hamilton, His Britannick Maiesty's Envoy Extraordinary at the Court of Naples, volumes I & II only (of 4), Naples: Morelli, 1766-67, 4 hand-coloured engraved titles in English and French, text in English and French, 3 uncoloured engraved dedications, 220 engraved plates (complete) including 94 hand-coloured, of which 22 double-page, a couple of double-page plates close-trimmed with ruled borders just shaved, one or two short closed marginal tears, all edges gilt, later green half morocco by Hatchards, Piccadilly (faded to brown), spines with raised bands and gilt vase decoration in compartments, joints and edges a little rubbed, large folio (47.5 x 37 cm) (Qty: 2) Blackmer 845; Brunet I, 321; Cohen-de-Ricci 474. According to Blackmer 500 copies were printed of the full set of four volumes, volumes III & IV were later published in 1776 although actually only 100 copies of each of volumes III & IV were published. The relatively large gap in publication dates has resulted in complete sets being rarely found. "This sumptuous work describes Hamilton's first collection of vases, which was sold to the British Museum in 1772. Shortly after his appointment as envoy to Naples in 1764 Hamilton began collecting vases. Hugues, a self-made antiquarian who had worked with Winckelmann and had close connections with the Dilettanti Society, acted as Hamilton's agent and assisted him in amassing his collection in a relatively short period, the basis of which was the purchase of the Greek vases belonging to the Porcarini family in 1766... This work is of great importance in the development of neo-classical designs for pottery and porcelain; it influenced Wedgewood especially." (Blackmer).