Ɵ Vincenzo Maria Coronelli, Memorie Istoriographiche, authors presentation copy [Venice, 1686]

Ɵ Vincenzo Maria Coronelli, Memorie Istoriographiche delli regni della Morea e Negroponte... (on the victories in Morea against the Ottoman Turks), author's presentation copy of the first edition [Venice, 1686]single volume, engraved half-title, title and coat-of-arms of the Duke of Brunswick, engraved initials and tail-pieces throughout, 16 double-page illustrations (mounted on stubs), 4 engraved illustrations on two facing leaves plus an additional 15 illustrations in the text, many of these illustrations include early maps and plans of the region, lower margin of engraved title with presentation inscription by the author to "D. Hyeronimo", plus a presentation letter from Admiral Smyth to the Athaneum Club tipped in between the half-title and title, plus an engraved presentation bookplate from the same to upper pastedown, some very minor finger-soiling to extremities else very clean and crisp condition, folio, 410 by 270 mm.; contemporary vellum, spine probably rebacked and corners strengthened in the nineteenth-century by the Athenaeum club with their logo to the spine end and embossed in gilt to upper cover, spine with red morocco label, lettered in gilt, covers a little soiled, vellum on spine starting to warpProvenance: Authorial presentation inscription on engraved title addressed to a Mr Jerome Vinodo (?) of the academia Capsario, then gifted by Admiral Smyth to the Athenaeum Club on the 20 November 1847 with a manuscript presentation letter tipped-onto the engraved title. Text: A grand and expensive publication produced on behalf of the city state of Venice following their defeats over the Ottomans at the Battle of Vienna in 1683, the war that was declared in 1684, their victories in Morea and re-conquering of the Aegean and Dalmatian territories with plates, battle plans and maps of these events throughout the volume. The first edition of this text is rare. Coronelli's works are often found with variants and the lack of a standard collation make this a challenge for cataloguers, however the plates and illustrations present conform with a copy in Atabey (their 268).