Scamozzi, Idea dell'architettura, Venice, 1615, vellum binding

SCAMOZZI, VINCENZO

L'idea dell'architettura universale. Venice: (Giorgio Valentino) the author, 1615

2 parts in one volume, folio (353 x 226mm.), 2 additional engraved title-pages, woodcut printer's device on letterpress title-pages, woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, full- or double-page woodcut or engraved illustrations (all by Scamozzi, except one which is thought to be by Titian or his grandson Tizianello), with one blank leaf (of 2), contemporary Italian vellum, yellow edges, lacking final leaf with register, Aa3-4 stained, slight damp-staining towards end, binding slightly soiled

FIRST EDITION of Scamozzi's detailed architectural treatise, which contains books 1-3 and 6-8 of his projected ten books; the remaining books were not completed before Scamozzi's death in 1616. It was published at the author's expense and each book was dedicated to a different potential patron in the hope of financial support, which does indeed seem to have been successful with Cosimo II de' Medici, the dedicatee of book 6.

The prefatory notes to the reader indicate the haste with which some of the text issued from the press, and the corrector of the text (and presumably the compiler of the indexes), Antonio Ramiro, is named, unusually, at the end of each part.

LITERATURE:

BAL RIBA 2917