[Rarebooks] FS: Montfaucon's classic of archaeology. 15 Folio vols. Paris: 1719-1724

[Kenneth Karmiole]

Montfaucon, Bernard de. L'ANTIQUITE EXPLIQUEE, et Representee en Figures... Paris: Florentin Delaulne, et al. 1719-1724. First Edition.  Folio (17" tall). 15 volumes (the original series is "5 volumes bound in 10," plus 5 volumes of supplement). Complete with a fine portrait of the author plus 1,394 copper engraved pates (many folding). Cont. full calf, spines with 2 red morocco labels and marbled endpapers. Spine extremities a bit chipped and hinges somewhat rubbed. All volumes are quite sound. Title page of Volume 4 with a repaired tear. With the armorial bookplate of James William Bellamy (1788-1874), Headmaster of Merchant Taylors' School and a Fellow of the Royal Society.    $25,000.00 (trade discount allowed)
A monumental and
 expensive publishing venture; it is a monumental survey of the artifacts of ancient civilization and it is one of the foundation stones of scientific archaeology. As with many highly illustrated sets, the collation of the plates is confusing. The plates are normally numbered, but one number is skipped in sequence, some are out-of-sequence and many plates are not numbered. Sets have been offered in the market place with 1388, 1392 and 1393 plates (plus portrait). A recent Bonham auction sale reads "with 1387 engraved plates of 1391." In fact, the full complement of plates should be 1394 plus portrait, as in the set we offer. Cohen-De Ricci 731; Cicognara 2493.

Kenneth Karmiole, Bookseller, Inc.
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