Beschreibung:

Dupérac, Étienne. I vestigi dell'antichità di Roma raccolti et ritratti in perspettiua con ogni diligentia da Stefano Du Perac parisino. Rome: Laurent de La Vacherie (Lorenzo della Vaccheria), 1575
Rare first issue, before addition of a four-line dedication to Giacomo Boncompagni (1548–1612), on the title-plate. A single copy of this first issue was recorded by Thomas Ashby (Gabinetto Nazionale delle Stampe di Roma, F G 2183), who supposed it represented a proof, or trial issue (“Le Diverse edizioni dei ‘Vestigi dell'Antichità di Roma’ di Stefano Du Pérac” in La Bibliofilia 16 [1915], p. 411).
Étienne Du Pérac (ca 1635–1604) worked for various publishers in Rome from about 1559 until 1578, when he returned to France as royal architect under Henri IV. His highly detailed views of the surviving ancient monuments of Rome are organized with topographical rigor, to provide a tour, commencing in the Forum, and ending outside the city, at the circus of Maxentius. Some plates, when viewed in tandem, offer panoramic views (e.g. pls. 19–20, of the Baths of Caracalla). Published in the year of the great Jubilee, it perhaps was envisaged as a souvenir for pilgrims; it became, however, a bestseller, with ten editions printed (from the original matrices) until 1773, and also two engraved copies (Prague 1606 and Rome 1660).
This copy was bound for Sir Andrew Fountaine (1676–1753), a gentleman architect and voracious collector. On the spine, stamped directly on the binding, is the Fountaine crest of an elephant statant, its trunk turned upwards. Eight versions of this stamp on recorded by the Toronto database of British Armorial Bindings. (For another book from the Fountaine library, see lot 50.) The identities of Fountaine’s binders have yet to be discovered. 
Sir Andrew travelled abroad for long periods in 1702 and again in 1714, and the Vestigi might have been purchased on either of these trips; alternatively, acquired by his father (1634–1707), who had strong architectural interests and also travelled on the Continent, and afterwards rebound by the son. The copy is recorded in a 1753 inventory of the Fountaine library as “I vestige Dell’ Antichita di Roma. Da: Stef. Du Perac: Roma 1575” (National Art Library, Victoria & Albert Museum, 86.ZZ.160, fol. 49, item 73). Also in the Fountaine Library were a copy of the Rome 1621 edition of I vestigi dell'antichità di Roma (sold by in our rooms, 11 June 1902, lot 298) and an intriguing manuscript (lot 738), “Disegni de le ruine di Roma,” with fragmentary text and a series of forty-six drawings of Roman ruins related to the plates of Du Pérac’s Vestigi and Sciographia (1574). The Fountaine manuscript, now Morgan Library & Museum, Ms M. 1106, has interested many scholars, notably Rudolf Wittkower, and Henri Zerner.
4to (236 x 210 mm). Full-sheet engraved title-page and 39 engraved plates (numbered 2–40), title in first state, all plates mounted on guards; an inscription on the verso of the last plate records their total number, “40 stucks.” (Some light marginal staining to title and first few plates.)
binding: Early eighteenth-century English tan diced Russia (243 x 215 mm), for Sir Andrew Fontaine, covers with decorative border composed from rules and roll tools, spine with 5 bands, 6 compartments with a green goatskin lettering-piece in one, the others with Fontaine's crest within ruled borders, board edges gilt, marbled endpapers, edges gilt. (Front joint cracked, lower joint rubbed.)
provenance: Sir Andrew Fountaine (supralibros, family crest), by descent to — Lt. Commander Andrew Fountaine (1918–1997; Christie’s, London, 27 November 1996, lot 315), purchased by — Librairie Lardanchet, Paris (£4600) (Beaux livres anciens et modernes [1997], item 16 (FF 75,000) — Jacques Bemberg (Alde & Bertrand Meaudre, Paris, 6 March 2014, lot 17 (€17,500). acquisition: Purchased at the Bemberg auction through Robin Halwas.
references: Edit16 17893; USTC 827792.