M. Ritter - Mémoire abrégé et recueil de quelques antiquités de la Suisse - 1788

Summary Memory and Collection of some Antiquities of Switzerland with Designs drawn on the spot since 1783

Guillaume-Antoine Ritter (Mr. Ritter), Architect of the Royal Academy of Architecture of Paris, of the Academy of Fine Arts and of the Society of Antiquaries of Cassel in Hesse, of the Electoral Academy of Dresden and of the Bologna Institute.

Bern, 1788

Subject: Roman Antiquities and historical Views of Switzerland (in particular Aventicum / Avenches and the Pierre Pertuis)
Technique: Print / Copper engraving (Ritter delineated, M. Eichler sculptor)

Rare eighteenth-century volume dedicated to archaeology and the Swiss antiquities
Prestigious and hard-to-find work of 1788 entitled "Mémoire abrégé et recueil de quelques Antiquités de la Suisse" written by Guillaume-Antoine Ritter, renowned architect and Bernese administrator associated with several international academies of the time (Paris, Kassel, Dresden, Bologna).
The text collects annotations and drawings made in the field starting from 1783 on the historical and architectural antiquities of Switzerland.

In-4°, 2 leaves (title page and dedication plate engraved), 39 pages with end matter + 1 colored view of the city of Avenches (with trimmed margins) + 8 engraved plates, of which 3 folded; contemporary bound in cardboard with marbled decorative paper.

Contains a view of Avenches by Dunker, and the large plan of the city of Avenches (indicated as "Avenghe") in Switzerland and the enceinte of Aventicum Helvetiorum, based on the survey made in 1769 by Dav. Fornerod, designed and enlarged by the architect M. Ritter in 1786.

Original title page: Mémoire Abrégé et Recueil de quelques Antiquités de la Suisse, bearing the author’s official titles and credentials (Royal Academy of Architecture of Paris, Bologna, Dresden, etc.).

Large folded cartographic map of Aventicum (Avenches): A detailed map showing the layout of the Roman and medieval city (Aventicum Helvetiorum), the ruins, the theater, the walls and panoramic views. Signed at the bottom Ritter delineated and M. Eichler sculptor, with the wording avec Privilege LL. EE..

Engraved plate – "Pierre Pertuis" (1785): View of the famous natural Roman pass with engraving of the Latin inscription NVMINI AVG....

Engraved plate – "Vue d'Avenche": Panoramic engraving with details of the city monuments.

Condition: excellent interior pages, fresh, period paper with visible margins, Plates in splendid condition, practically untouched.
Boards with slight edge wear, spine with wear and small losses.