AA.VV. A Collection of Etchings, by that inimitable artist Stefanio (sic) Della Bella...
A Collection of Etchings, by that inimitable artist Stefanio (sic) Della Bella, comprising in number One Hundred and Eighty Pieces, and consisting of landscapes, marine views, animals, friezes, ornaments, &c&c to which is prefixed a bibliographical memoir of The Artist.London, H. R. Young, 1818
Folio, 372x265 mm. Contemporary three-quarter calf and marbled boards, gilt, spine in cloth, edges gilt. Frontispiece, title, 22 pp and 179 etching on 96 sheets, thus a total of 180. Defects to the binding, some general spotting and some occasional stain but a usable copy.
Scarce first edition. Series from the original copper plates. The engravings here collected, divided into 10 parts, are: 1) 13 etchings without title, dedicated to "Baron Charon de Dormelles"; 2) 8 etchings entitled "Varie figure"; 3) 6 etchings "Varii capricii militarii"; 4 + 5) each 4 etchings without title or dedication; 6) 8 etchings without title, dedicated to "Lorenzo di Toscanae"; 7) 24 etchings "Diversi animali"; 8) 16 etchings "Ornamenti di fregi"; 9) 18 + 12 etchings "Raccolta di varii cappricii" dedicated to Baron Charon de Dormelles"; 10) 25 etchings "Principii de disegno" 11) 41 etchings "Receuil de quarante griffonements". The preliminary text contains a biography of the famous Florentine engraver Stefano della Bella (1610-1664) by Thomas Dodd, an English publisher and well-known printseller in London (1771-1850). Dodd acquired a wide knowledge of prints, and was able to bring together many plates engraved and signed by Stefano della Bella for this suite of etchings, printed on heavy paper.