ALBRIZZI, Giovan Battista. Forestiere illuminato intorno le cose più rare, e curiose, antiche, e moderne, della città di Venezia, e dell’isole circonvicine…
Venezia, Giovambatista Albrizzi & Girol., 1740
In 8vo. 160x100 mm. Contemporary Armorial binding, hazelnut calfskin, with the Brühl family coat of arms stamped in gold on the covers, five-ribbed spine with gold floral decoration and title, marbled endpapers, red edges. Copper-engraved frontispiece. 16 unnumbered pages, including the title page, 343, [9]. Frontispiece with the royal coat of arms of Poland, a large, folded general view of Venice, 70 views on 42 plates outside the text, 25 of which are on a double page, all copper-engraved. Trace of an old ownership stamp on the lower margin of the title page. A good copy.
Extremely rare first issue of the first edition. The views are of high quality and rich in architectural detail, many engraved by Francesco Zucchi. The frontispiece features the coat of arms of Frederick Christian, Prince of Poland, supported by three cherubs, a beautiful bird's-eye view of Venice, and 70 views on 42 plates, 25 of which are on double-page. The guide opens with a general introduction about Venice, is then organized into six itineraries that allow for a systematic visit of the entire city, and concludes with a description of the lagoon islands. These six itineraries describe more than 250 monumental and artistic sites, often with annotations rich in valuable historical information. Morazzoni: "This guide surpasses all others in practicality, its wealth of information, and above all, its wealth of plates... Albrizzi is an infallible means of celebrating Venice."
The two editions of the work are distinguished by some changes to the text, such as the one on p. 262 describing the Church of the Gesuati.
This is a copy of prestigious provenance, having belonged to the Counts of Brühl, originally from Thuringia. The family rose to prominence through the powerful rise of Count Heinrich von Brühl (1700–1763), who became the most influential man in the Kingdom of Saxony.
Cicogna 4479; Fossati Bellani 2277; Morazzoni p. 230 e 64.