Orsini, Fulvio (1534–1600). Familiae romanae quae reperiuntur in antiquis numismatibus, ab Urbe condita ad tempora divi augusti, ex bibliotheca Fulvi Ursini; adjunctis familiis XXX ex libro Antoni Augusti, episcopi Ilerdensis. (Romae cum privelegio curant

Electronic Auction 523
Lot: 840. Estimated: $ 750

Numismatic Literature

Sold For $ 1 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Orsini, Fulvio (1534–1600). Familiae romanae quae reperiuntur in antiquis numismatibus, ab Urbe condita ad tempora divi augusti, ex bibliotheca Fulvi Ursini; adjunctis familiis XXX ex libro Antoni Augusti, episcopi Ilerdensis. (Romae cum privelegio curantibus heredib. Francisci Tramezini, 1577). Folio, pp. superbly engraved architectural frontispiece with mythological and allegorical figures and Republican coin types decorating the capitals, (6), 407, (1), index (10), (1); illustrated throughout with 223 elegantly framed copper plates of coins within the text. Bound in full contemporary limp vellum, author and title inked in contemporary hand on spine. Vellum toned, with scattered marks and stains, the upper cover detached but still holding, the text block firm, contents lightly browned with large water stain affecting the outer margin of most of most pages. Still, a good untrimmed copy in a contemporary binding. The first edition of this landmark work on Republican coins, and the first attempt to consolidate all of the information then known about the Roman noble families during the time of the Republic. The culmination of which is this elegant production combining a methodical and scholarly account of 164 Roman families arranged alphabetically, with numerous, finely executed plates illustrating over 750 coin types. Described by his contemporary Joseph Scaliger a “liber divinus”, the immense popularity of this title helped cement Orsini’s reputation as the greatest numismatist in Europe with a further, expanded edition published almost a hundred years later by Charles Patin, in 1663. Babelon pp. 77-8. Dekesel O4. Lipsius pp. 17 (Augustini) & 408. Website shipping rates do not apply. Please note that this lot will ship from our London office.


Closing Date and Time: 7 September 2022 at 14:39:40 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 20% buyer’s fee.