Lovely first edition of this wonderfully illustrated book, with 70 captioned tissue-guarded colour plates painted by Alberto Pisa Handsome copy, and scarce in this condition. First published 1905. Beautifully and colourfully illustrated with coloured frontispiece ‘Temple of saturn’, and 69 tissue-guarded fine colour plates painted by the Italian artist Alberto Pisa (Pisa (1864-1936), was a noted Italian painter best known for his landscape watercolours of ruins, and garden views of Rome, Pompeii, Florence, and the Italian countryside and people in Ferrara). Text by M.A.R. Tuker and Hope Malleson. Published by Adam and Charles Black, London, 1905. Publisher’s original dark blue cloth boards with Roman design in black, and olive on front cover and spine. Gilt title on spine and upper board. Top edges gilt. Book Dimensions: 23 x 17 x 4.5 cm and Number of Pages: 267 including index Condition The book is beautifully bound, designed and illustrated. Firm, and well bound copy. External covers are clean and in nice shape, with light wear to corners and slight tear to top spine. Internally the book is in fine condition indeed. Old inscription dated 1921 with neat ink on inside front cover page. All pages are tightly held at the gutter. Inner hinges are very good. Pages are very clean. All plates are present and bright (Please see pictures).