One of 125 copies

Lanci, Michelangelo. Trattato delle Simboliche rappresentanze arabiche.

Paris, dalla Stamperia orientale di Dondey-Dupré, 1845-1846.

Small folio. 3 vols. (2 vols. of text and 1 plate vol.). 288 pp. 256 pp. 64 plates. Contemporary half calf on raised bands, red morocco spine labels, black volume numbers. Marbled endpapers.

 35,000.00

First edition, one of 125 copies.

The learned Italian abbot and orientalist Michele Angelo Lanci (1779-1867) taught Arabic at the Sapienza in Rome. For his "Trattato", Lanci studied Islamic artefacts such as the famous "Vaso Vescovali" (now in the British Museum), of which he provided the first scholarly account. Includes engravings of inscriptions on talismans, amulets, arms and armour, metalwares and textiles.

Some foxing. From the library of the Ducs de Luynes at the Château de Dampierre: their bookplate reproducing the arms of Charles Marie d'Albert de Luynes (1783-1839), 7th Duc de Luynes, on pastedown.

Of the utmost rarity, no copies recorded at auctions since decades. No copy in the US.

References

ICCU UBO\3282249. OCLC 41653985. Cf. Gay 2094. Brunet III, 809. Graesse IV, 93 (1846 ed.).