Giulio Ferrario (1767–1847) - Il Costume Antico e Moderno – Asia, Band IV - 1829

Giulio Ferrario – Il Costume Antico e Moderno – Asia, Band IV – 1829 – Completely with all plates – Hand-coloured copper engravings – Historical half-leather binding

Author: Giulio Ferrario (1767–1847)
Title: Il Costume Antico e Moderno, or History of the Government, the Militia, the Religion, the Arts, Sciences and Customs of all the Ancient and Modern Peoples
Edition: Third Edition (3rd issue)
Volume: Asia – Volume Four (Asia, Band IV)
Place of Publication: Turin
Publisher: Alessandro Fontana
Year: 1829
Language: Italian
Binding: Historical half-leather binding with marbled boards and gold-embossed leather spine

Description

A magnificently illustrated original volume from Giulio Ferrario’s famous encyclopedic work Il Costume Antico e Moderno, one of the important Italian publishing projects of the early 19th century on the history, culture, and way of life of the peoples of the world.

The present third edition appeared in 1829 in Turin at Alessandro Fontana.

The volume is complete with all the illustrations listed in the printed plate index. No plate is missing.

The fourth Asia volume is devoted to the history, religion, architecture, dress and social traditions of the peoples of the Near East and the ancient world.

Among others, Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, Arabia, Phrygia, Lydia, Lycia, Cilicia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, Armenia, Assyria, Babylon, and Media are treated.

The Illustrations

Particularly noteworthy are the finely executed, partly magnificently hand-coloured historical copper engravings.

All nine plates listed in the plate index are present:

* Plate 57: Arco di Laodicea – Triumphal Arch of Laodicea
* Plate 58: Elevazione del tempio di Balbec – Temple of Baalbek
* Plate 59: Interno del tempio di Balbec – Interior view of the Temple of Baalbek
* Plate 60: Prospetto della corte del tempio di Palmira – Colonnaded court of the Temple of Palmyra
* Plate 61: Costume degli Emiri – Attire of the Emirs
* Plate 62: Califfi ed Imano – Caliphs and Imams
* Plate 63: Cadavere di Ettore portato a Troja – The body of Hector carried to Troy
* Plate 64: Amazzoni giunte in aiuto de’ Troiani – Amazons come to the aid of the Trojans
* Plate 66: Armeni Babilonesi – Armenians and Babylonians

The numbering corresponds to the original printed plate index. The non-sequential numbering is therefore not an indication of a missing plate.

The hand-colored views of ancient monuments as well as the vivid depictions of Oriental clothing are especially decorative and document European historical interest in Near Eastern cultures.

Binding and Condition

The volume is in its historic half-leather binding with marbled boards and decorative gold tooling on the spine.

The binding shows evident, age-related signs of wear, in particular wear to the boards, edges and leather. The gilding on the spine is partially rubbed, but still clearly legible.

The pages show occasional browning of paper, foxing, creases and minor edge damage. The plates are mostly well preserved; the historical coloring remains particularly appealing.

Overall, an authentically preserved, almost 200-year-old antiquarian work with beautiful historic character and fully preserved plate content.

Collector’s value

An interesting and decorative copy for collectors of antiquarian books, historical travel and ethnography, Oriental art, architectural history, and hand-coloured engraving.

Note on private sale

The description has been prepared to the best of our knowledge and belief. This is a nearly 200-year-old antiquarian book with corresponding age- and wear-related traces. The photographs are part of the condition description. Please review them carefully.

The sale is made from a private collection with exclusion of warranty for material defects, as far as legally permissible.