FALDA, Giovanni Battista (1648-1678). Le fontane di Roma. Roma: Giacomo de Rossi, [1675-89].

Edition before numbering (the firstà) of one of the most beautiful collections of Roman Baroque depicting fountains built in the 16th and 17th centuries in Rome and the surrounding villas. The accurate and well engraved plates are taken from drawings by Falda and Francesco Venturini (1630-1710) and engraved by L. Rouhier. Part I was published around 1675, Part II before 1687 by Gio. Francesco Negroni, to whom it was dedicated as 'Chierico Delle Camera Apostolica', who had become Papal Legate in Bologna in 1687; Part III probably around 1689 because it was dedicated to Livio Odescalchi, nephew of Pope Innocent XI, who died in 1689. As with other collections, all the copies examined vary in the numbering and arrangement of the plates. Our copy certainly belongs to one of the first print-runs before numbering and has a total of 79 plates like all the main collections, although positioned differently.3 parts, oblong folio, (258 x 390mm). Le fontane delle ville di Frascati... parte seconda. Engraved title-page and dedication, 18 engraved plates [BOUND WITH:] Le fontane ne' palazzi e ne' giardini di Roma... parte terza. Engraved title-page and dedication, 19 plates [BOUND WITH:] Le fontane di Roma nelle piazze, e luoghi publici della citta... Libro primo. Engraved title-page and dedication, 35 plates + 1 folding. 79 plates in total (light wear). Rebacked nineteenth-century binding (worn). (1)