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NAPOLI 2500: History of a city and its territory

Monday 29 September 2025, 03:00 PM • Rome

181 Teatro

Ficoroni, Francesco de'

The stage masks and comic figures of ancient Rome, 1736

Estimate

€ 280 - 400

Sold

€ 361

The price includes buyer's premium

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Information

Rome, Antonio de' Rossi, 1736. 4°. Wide margins, woodcut initials and friezes, with a vignette on the half-title and 85 tipped-in plates, including one folded, engraved in copper by S. Pomerade, F. Mazzoni, and B. De Petris, depicting "masks and comic figures in cameos, engraved gems, and other monuments" of the ancient Romans, made of various materials and part of the author's rich collection. Very light foxing, contemporary full parchment binding, gold title within a tag on the spine, restoration on the spine, minor defects. Ownership signature on the half-title dated 1745.

Specialist Notes

First edition of this important treatise on ancient theatre. Ficoroni (1664 - 1747) was a famous antiquarian whose erudition became legendary. Cicognara 1652: "A work on this subject that can be considered the most classic and comprehensive of all those that preceded and followed it [...]." Brunet II, 1245: "Ouvrage important et estim?"