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"BULKIEST ARCHITECTURAL TREATISE WRITTEN IN ITALY" (Wittkower). FIRST EDITION. Folio (34x23,5cm). Roman letter, some Italic. 6 books in 1 volume, divided in 2 parts. Additional architectural t-ps with author's portrait within oval for both parts, each book with its own t-p. 1st part: [Book 1] a8, A-G6 H4 (H4 blank), blank, with 3 full-page woodcuts; [Book 2] a2, I-K6 L-M2 N-R6 S4 T-X2 Y8, with 4 full-page woodcuts, 1 full-page woodcut plate, 1 double-page woodcut, 1 double-page copper engraving and 3 double-page copper engraved plates; [Book 3] a2, Z6 2A-2I6 2K-2L4 (2L4 blank), a-b6 c4 [=index], with 26 full-page and 2 double-page woodcuts. 2nd part: [Book 6] *4, *2, A-O6 P8, with 40 copper engravings, 1 of which being a double-paged plate; [Book 7] a2, Q-Z6; [Book 8] a2, 2A-2G6 2H-2I4, *6 2*4 [=index], final leaf with register, with 6 full-page woodcuts. With a total of 43 woodcuts and 44 copper engravings. All illustrations are included in the pagination, which is [16], 1-90, [9], 96- 128, [2], 125-193 [2] 194-218, [4], 219-352 [i.e. 356], [34] and [12], 172, [4], 173-279 [i.e. 269], [5], 271-370, [22]. Numerous historiated initials, head and tail-pieces. Late-C19th illustrated bookplate of "Dav. Henrici de Prioribus" glued on upper pastedown. Some ms. notes throughout. Occasional mild waterstaining at margins to the initial leaves and sporadic light marginal foxing or spotting. Generally, a crisp and clean copy. Few short tears along margins, title leaf of 7th book starting to loosen at upper gutter. A thick and large book bound in slightly later vellum over pasteboards, painted label with giltstamped lettering to spine, some scattered wormholes. Small skin flaw at footcap and restored loss at headcap. All edges marbled. A very good copy. First edition of Scamozzi s detailed architectural treatise, which contains books 1-3 and 6-8 of his projected 10 books; the remaining books were not completed before Scamozzi s death in 1616. It was published at the author s expense and each book was dedicated to a different potential patron in the hope of financial support, which does indeed seem to have been successful with Cosimo II de Medici, the dedicatee of Book 6. Schlosser-Magnino 417: «Queste quattro opere furono e sono l'ereditą lasciata dal tardo Rinascimento italiano alla madre patria e a tutta l'Europa»; Berlin Kat. 2605; Cicognara, 651; Fowler, 292; Piantanida, 4409; Riccardi, Sup. V, 150. Seller Inventory # ABE-1623404066859
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