Beschreibung:

LUMISDEN, Andrew (1720-1801). Remarks on the Antiquities of Rome and its Environs . London: W. Bulmer for G. Nicol, 1797. 4° (280 x 217mm). Engraved portrait frontispiece and 12 plates, 4 folding. EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED WITH 62 HAND-COLOURED AQUATINT PLATES FROM J. MERIGOT'S A Select Collection of Views and Ruins in Rome [1797-1799]. (Some spotting of the uncoloured plates, one or two quires browned.) Contemporary English straight-grained blue morocco gilt, covers decorated with four narrow rectangles filled with criblé ornament, gilt spine with criblé decoration, gilt turn-ins, yellow endpapers, gilt edges (light rubbing, corners a little bumped). Provenance : George Hibbert (1757-1837, bookplate, sold Evans, 1829, lot 4985) -- Sir Robert Abdy (with his note 'only 2 copies known with coloured plates,' sold Ader, April 29, 1976, lot 134) -- Fernand Pouillon (sold Ader, 1984, lot 28). EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED AND FINELY-BOUND COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION WITH A DISTINGUISHED PROVENANCE. Although Merigot's plates are not infrequently bound with Lumisden's Antiquities of Rome , there are, certainly, very few examples in which the plates are hand-coloured. Merigot's views were originally published in two parts, 1797-1799, in both an ordinary edition which was issued uncoloured, and a coloured edition on large paper. Although there was a latter issue by J. Hearne in c. 1819, recorded by Abbey, and according to Lowndes another issue by White and Cochrane in about 1805, the absence of Hearne's imprint below the frontispiece and of any later watermarks helps to substantiate that these are first issue plates (the plate of the 'Temple of the Sibill at Tivoli' [no. 47] is watermarked 1794). The ornate binding in the manner of Staggemeier and Welcher reflects the wealth and taste of Hibbert for whom it was presumably made. Schudt 774; Olschki 17435; cf. Abbey Travel 178 (Merigot, 1819 edition).