MONUMENTA PATAVINA Studio Collecta, digesta, explicata, suisque iconibus expressa. Ad Serenissimvm Principem & Senatvm Venetvm

Patavii (Padua, Italy): Apud Paulum Frambottum Bibliopolam, 1652. FIRST EDITION. ________ Folio (about 12 3/4 x 8 1/2") in contemporaneous calf, professionally and sympathetically rebacked using original gilt spine compartments and label and original endpapers; six raised bands; all page edges sprinkled red. Portrait (dated 1651) and engraved title by G. Georgi. (The engraved title is often catalogued as a frontispiece) Imbellished with numerous decorative head- and tail-pieces and historiated initials. ________ PAGINATION & COLLATION: [xxiv], 352, [30] pp. (indices and errata form last 30 pages). Collation follows that of the Getty copy: [par.]6, 2[par.]2, a4, A-3A4 3B4(-3B4 which is blank). ________ Text in Latin; illustrated with engravings of monuments, markers, headstones and other Roman antiquities. ________ U.S. copies located at Penn State, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, the Getty Research Institute (Besterman Collection). ________ Rough count of the engravings: at least 66 part page and 23 taking up a full page. ________ "Orsato, Sertorio, or Ursatus, a celebrated antiquary, historian, grammarian, and poet, was born February 1, 1617, at Padua, of one of the most illustrious families in that city. He applied diligently to the study of antiquities and ancient inscriptions, which occasioned his taking several journies [sic] into different parts of Italy. When advanced in life, he was appointed to teach natural philosophy in the university of Padua, and acquitted himself with great success in that office. He died at Venice July 3, 1678. He was a member of the academy of the Ricovrati, and has left a great number of valuable works, some in Latin, others in Italian..." --Chalmers Biography (1812). ________ CONDITION: As noted, this copy is bound in contemporaneous calf with spine professionally restored using original gilt panels. Some wear to corners and along board edges. Text pages clean and bright. ________ A VERY SOUND COPY OF THIS SCHOLARLY WORK ON ROMAN ANTIQUITIES. ________ Graesse V, 54; Coleti, 155; Lozzi II, 3251.