Western Europe, Italy, Rome, Renaissance period, Cinquecento, ca. 1569 CE. An impressive first edition book titled "Inlustrium Viror. ut exstant in Urbe expressi vultus" ("Illustrious Greens, as they stand in the city of Rome") featuring a collection of engraved plates published by Antoine du Perac Lafrery, better known as Antonio Lafreri (Burgundian, 1512-1577). The codex includes a figurative frontispiece in an architectural frame, 36 (of originally 52) full-page engraved and numbered plates, and a preface by Aquiles Estaco, also known as Achille Stazio (Portuguese, 1524-1581). Despite having no signature, it is generally believed that the plates and the title page are the work of the engraver Agostino Musi, called Agostino Veneziano (Italian, ca. 1490-1540). Size: 8.5" L x 3.5" W x 11.75" H (21.6 cm x 8.9 cm x 29.8 cm)

The Portuguese humanist Aquiles Estaco was the author of one of the first collections dedicated to ancient iconography, while Lafreri initiated the production of prints recording art works, architecture, and city views related to Antique and Modern Rome. The plates depict mostly ancient, marble herm-portraits of eminent personalities on a neutral and shaded background.

A full first edition of "Inlustrium Viror. Ut exstant in Urbe expressi vultus" hammered 2,750 euro (equivalent to about $3,804.08 at the time) at Sotheby's Paris on October 12th 2010 (lot 152, "Library of a Scholar Bibliophile: Rome and Italy").

Provenance: ex-Royal Athena Galleries, New York City, New York, USA

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#181636

Missing plates 1-14, 28, and 32. Cover is not original to piece and was likely added later; well worn and stuck slightly open with scuffs, tears, stains and fraying. "Hopetown" bookplate on interior of front cover. Pages are detaches from binding and cover. Pages have some wrinkling, foxing, and a few minute tears. Plates are clear and well preserved with miniscule staining that does not effect imagery. Inscribed in pencil and ink on front and back flyleaves. Watermarks to most pages.