[Rarebooks] FS: Rare plates only pub. of Van Westerhout's 18 engravings of the Jesuit Superior Generals. Rome: 1748

[Kenneth Karmiole]

Van Westerhout, Arnold (engraver). IMAGINES PRAEPOSITORUM GENERALIUM SOCIETATIS JESU. Delineatae et Exculptae ab Arnoldo Van Westerhout. Rome: Venantium Monaldini. 1748. Lg. 4to. Engraved title, plus 18 engraved portraits, each with engraved text, beginning with the founder of the Order, Ignatius de Loyola. All are strong impressions on fine deckle edged paper. A few minor marginal repairs. Black buckram, spine stamped in gold.                       $1,000.00 (trade discount allowed)
This is the rare publication of the plates only. The original work published in 1748 with descriptive letterpress biographies by Niccolo Galeotti has a variant sub-title which reads, "Ritratti de Preposti Generali della Compagnia di Gesu." The 1748 edition was published with 15 portraits. The second edition of 1751 contained 16 portraits, the third edition of 1756 had 17 portraits, and the final edition of 1758 contains 18. All of these 18 are found in this volume, which maintains the original title page dated 1748. See Backer-Sommervogel, Vol. 3, columns 1108-1109, not listing a publication of plates only, as here offered.

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