Epigrammata antiquae urbis Cautum edicto Leonis X Pont. Opt. Max. ne quis in septennium hoc opus excudat alioqui reus esto noxamque pendito

Folio. ff. [2] (blank), [10], CLXXX, [8], [2] (blank) (many misfoliations (especially leaves CLXVI-CLXXX; no. CLXXX repeated). Signatures: π¹⁰ A⁴ B-Z⁶ ET⁶ [sic] [con]⁶ [rum]⁶ AA-CC⁶ DD-EE⁴ aa⁸ (EE1, EE2 signed EE2, EE3) (Collation differs from Adams, which has X⁴, and describes sig. EE as EE⁶ ( -EE1. EE6); many erroneous signings (including the mysterious sheet EE), differenty explained by Adams and Mortimer). 17th-century calf, hinges and extremities restaurated by Aquarius. Bookplate of William Charles de Meuron, Earl Fitzwilliam. Crossed-out manuscript shelf marks on p. [2] of cover, by at least 2 near-contemporary hands and some later ones. Engraved initials. Illustrated with woodcuts (incorporating type) of the inscriptions, and some twenty-one monumental facades, arches, obelisks, etc.

First and only edition, annotated by at least two near-contemporary owners, and one or two more, slightly later, with many hundreds of marginal comments and eyewitness revisions to the text of many inscriptions. The annotations, at least in the early pages, are mostly concerned with the accuracy of Mazzocchi's transcriptions and correct many misreadings. They sometimes supply a physical description or update a location. They also mention doubts on the authenticity of some of the inscriptions. On the annotations see W. Stenhouse, ‘The Epigrammata antiquae urbis in American Collections,’ in: J. Carbonell Manils & G. González Germain (eds.), The Epigrammata antiquae urbis (1521) and its Influence on European Antiquarianism. Rome, 2020, pp. 71-86.

In general, forgeries abound in the present work. See L. Cicognara, Catalogo ragionata dei libri d’arte e d’antichità posseduti dal Conte Cicognara. 2 vols. Pisa, 1821, 3789; H. M. Adams, Catalogue of Books Printed on the Continent of Europe, 1501-1600, in Cambridge Libraries. 2 vols. Cambridge, 1967, E236; R. Mortimer, Catalogue of books and manuscripts. Cambridge, 1974, II, no. 297; A. A. Barbier, Dictionnaire des ouvrages anonymes. Paris, 1879, vol. IV, 1248; J.-C. Brunet, Manuel du Libraire et de l'amateur de livres. Paris, 1861, II, col. 1016. .

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