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Nomos 3

10 May 2011
Zunfthaus zur Saffran, Zürich
overview
Estimate: 5000 CHF
Hammer Price:  4500 CHF
Lot 264

Paolo Pedrusi (1644-1720), Catalogue of the Farnese Collection of Roman Coins, ten volumes, but with all the engraved plates of coins removed and bound separately in two contemporary supplementary volumes. The first eight volumes were the work of Pedrusi; after his death the remaining two were finished by his continuator, Pietro Piovene. Twelve folio volumes in all. I Cesari, etc.. (Parma, 1694-1727). 227 + 3703 + 20 pp., 266 pls., portrait of Pedrusi, 10 frontispieces, 27 portraits and 27 architectural views, many figural and floral filling engravings. I Cesari in Oro, Racolti nel Farnese Museo, e pubblicati colle loro congrue Interpretazioni. Tomo Primo composto dal padre Paolo Pedrusi della Compagna di Gesù, e dedicato all ‘ Altezza Serenissima di Rannuccio Secondo, Duca di Parma, Piacenza, &. Parma, 1694. Folio (25.5 x 36 cm) frontispiece (portrait of Ranuccio II), pp xii + 432, 28 pls.; I Cesari in Argento da Giulio Cesare fino a Trajano…Tomo Secondo…Francesco Primo…Parma, 1701. Folio, frontispiece (portrait of Francesco I), pp. xx + 452, 34 pls.; ibid, da Adriano fino a Carcalla, e Geta…Tomo Terzo…Parma, 1703. Folio, pp x + 370, 24 pls.; ibid, da Macrino fino a Eraclio…Tomo Quarto…Parma, 1704 Folio, frontispiece (portrait of Francesco as volume II), pp. xii + 324, 19 pls.; I Cesari in Medaglioni…Tomo Quinto…Parma, 1709. Folio, frontispiece (as last), pp. xxiv + 369, 27 pls.; I Cesari in Metallo Grande, da Giulio Cesare fino a L. Elio…Tomo Sesto…Parma, 1714. Folio, frontispiece (as last), pp. xl + 403, 40 pls. (partially hand colored); ibid, da Antonino Pio fino a Gordiano III…Tomo Settimo…Parma, 1717. Folio, frontispiece (as last), pp. xxxxxvi + 432, 43 pls. (partially hand colored); ibid, Proseguendo da M. G. Filippo, fino a Postumo, con parte de’Cesari in metallo mezzano, e piccolo, incominciando da Alessandro Magno, fino a Tito…Tomo Ottavo…Parma, 1721. Folio, frontispiece (standing figure of Francesco I), portrait of the author, pp. xv + 355, 23 pls.; ibid, Tomo Nono, che contiene le medaglie di Domiziano, di Domizia, e de Giulia di Tito, opera de Pietro Piovene…Parma, 1724. Folio, frontispiece (medallion of Francesco I in landscape), pp. xx + 260 + (12), engraved vignettes of members of the Farnese family and of Farnese palaces in the text, 9 pls.; ibid, Tomo Decimo che contiene le medaglie di Nerva, di Trajano, di Plotina, e di Matidia…Parma, 1727. Folio, frontispiece (as last), pp. (18) + 306 + (8), many engraved vignettes of members of the Farnese family and of Farnese palaces in the text, 19 pls.. Fine condition, Volumes I-III, VII-VIII, modern vellum with labels; volumes IV-VI, IX-X, contemprary original vellum; plate volumes I-II, old, perhaps contemporary, full leather with gold stamps.



Babelon, Traité I, 163, 5. Cicognara Library 2971. Lipsius p. 309. Olschki, Choix, 12977.

Very rare, especially complete, and with the portrait of Pedrusi in volume VIII. Very well preserved, often internally perfect, but with a few minor worm holes and lacking the frontispiece of volume III. The Farnese collection was and is one of the great Italian coin collections, consisting of some 10,000 Greek, 26,000 Roman and 15,000 medieval and early modern coins (as well as a large number of dies and tools used in the mint of Parma). Many of the ancient coins go back to Fulvio Orsini’s collection, which was formed in the later 16th century. Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza (1646-1694), was so proud of them that he decided to have the Roman published by the Jesuit scholar, P. Pedrusi. The first volume appeared in 1694: the project was still incomplete in 1727 when the tenth volume was published, not only after the deaths of both Ranuccio II and Pedrusi, but of Ranuccio II’s successor, Francesco I; the duchy passed to his brother Antonio who, like his brother, died without issue. Parma then became a Bourbon possession and, had its collections transferred to Naples, where they remain to this day. Needless to say, these ten superb folio volumes of the late 17th and early 18th century are the only ‘modern’ publication of the Farnese collection of coins, which is quite a commentary on how coins are valued by Italian museums.

Online bidding closes: 10 May 2011, 09:00:00 CEST Current Date & Time: 28 Mar 2024, 12:30:08 CET Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:4500 CHF

Pre-Bidding closes on 10 Mai 2011 at 9:00 CEST. Live bidding starts at 14:00 CET and is EXCLUSIVELY available on biddr. Separate registration is required.

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