Lot 56: ROSSI, Giovanni Giacomo -- DE ROSSI, Domenico. Mercurio geografico overo guida geografica in tutte le parti del mondo . Rome: Domenico de Rossi heir of Giovanni Giacomo de Rossi, 1692-[1723]. 2 volumes, 2° (585 x 467mm). Half-title, 2 engraved

ROSSI, Giovanni Giacomo -- DE ROSSI, Domenico. Mercurio geografico overo guida geografica in tutte le parti del mondo. Rome: Domenico de Rossi heir of Giovanni Giacomo de Rossi, 1692-[1723]. 2 volumes, 2° (585 x 467mm). Half-title, 2 engraved titles, 150 hand-coloured maps of which 31 double-page. (Some leaves and maps repaired and remargined, occasional browning and spotting.) Later, probably late 18th -early 19th century, half sheep, red edges (extremities rubbed, tail of spines chipped).

A COMPLETE COPY WITH ALL MAPS. The maps are mainly by Cantelli, an important Italian cartographer and engraver who worked for Francesco II, Duke of Modena in the 17th century. He is well known for pioneering the Italian style of fine bold engraving that would eventually be embraced and expanded by Vincenzo Coronelli. The other cartographers include Baudrand, Sanson, Lubin, Titi, Ameti, Magini and Mattei and the engravings are by Barbey, Widman, Lhuillier, Donia and Mariotti. The maps in the present copy accord with the list in the index but instead of the map of Gran Tartaria and of China there are 2 maps of Illycorum Occidentis and Illycorum Orientis. Shirley BL I, pp. 868-874. (2)