IMPERIAL EDITION OF VIEWS AND RUINS IN ROME AND ITS VICINITY, WITH 62 LOVELY FOLIO HAND-COLORED AQUATINT PLATES BY JAMES MERIGOT

(ROME) MERIGOT, James. A Select Collection of Views and Ruins in Rome and Its Vicinity. Recently Executed from Drawings Made upon the Spot. London: Messrs. Robinsons, White, Faulder and Evans, circa 1821. Folio (14 by 20 inches), modern half red morocco, marbled endpapers, uncut. $8800.

Imperial paper edition of Merigot's classic work on Rome, with 62 magnificent, finely hand-colored aquatint engravings—a lovely uncut copy.

Although many books of a similar nature were released during the late 18th to early 19th centuries due to the rise of Neo-classicism among the British populace, this work was unique in its particular attention to the accurate depiction of the Roman ruins. Merigot visited each of the ruins and drew them in person, making this an important record both of Ancient Rome and also of the state of Roman ruins at the turn of the 19th century. First published in 1797-99; a second edition was issued by White and Cochrane circa 1805. This is the third edition, undated on the title page, with plates watermarked 1819 and 1821. Text in English and French. With original printed paper cover label, with price of 15 guineas, retained and mounted on a front flyleaf. Abbey, Travel 178. See Cox I:166. Lowndes, 1537. Lewine, 356. Prideaux, 344. With a two-page typed note laid in dated 1970 discussing the volume's provenance and rebinding. With a hand-lettered and decorated quote from Percy Bysshe Shelley mounted on the front pastedown.

A fine, uncut copy of this wonderfully illustrated collection of Roman views.