Augustarum imagines . . . Paris, apud Macaeum Ruette, 1619. [Bound with:] Ex libris XXIII commentariorum in vetera imperatorum romanorum numismata. Paris, [n.p.], 1619. Discorso sopra le medaglie de gli antichi. Paris, appresso Maceo Ruette,

I: Fine engraved title-page and 63 full-page engraved plates, woodcut coins in text. II: Fine engraved title-page, full-page plate incorporating bust of Julius Caesar and 8 full-page plates of coins.3 works in one vol. 4to. [8]ff. 192pp. [2]ff. ; 130pp. [6]ff.; 112pp. [8]ff. 18th century half-calf, marbled boards, flat spine with labels lettered in gilt.

A fine collection of works by Enea Vico published in France for the first time and prepared by Jean-Baptiste Duval from the original plates. As Mortimer notes, "Jean Baptiste Du Val secured a privilege in 1618 to print the works of Vico with the original copperplates. His edition of this title Augustarum imagines appeared in 1619, Paris, Fleury Bourriquant, for Macé Ruette. Du Val reworked the plates and made substitutions and additions. Vico's plate XXIII was used at some time as an engraved title-page. it appears in 1619 with traces of a title and Venice imprint on the plate." The Augustarum imagines holds splendid engraved portraits of Roman Empresses and their female relations, from the grandmother of Julius Caesar up to the wife of Domitian, a masterpiece of mannerist book illustration. All the portraits are taken from antique coins and most are inserted in fabulous frames, all different, ornamented with putti, satyrs, allegories and monsters. The second work illustrates coins from the reign of Julius Ceasar with an explanatory text while the final work is an important discussion of the coins of antiquity which includes a list of collections of medals known to Vico at the time. All three works were first published at Venice, 1555-1560. See Mortimer,Italian, no. 533.

Stock Code: 41126