1616 132 PLATES CIACONO RAPHAEL TRAJANS COLUMN ROME NR 130 DOUBLE PAGE PLATES, 2 FOLDING PLTS FULL CALF XRARE Start Price USD 3,000.00 Current Price USD 3,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, July 24, 2008 End Time Sunday, August 03, 2008 Location W. WINDSOR, VT See more about '1616 132 PLATES CIACONO RAPHAEL TRAJANS COLUMN ROME NR' Description HISTORIA UTRISQUE BELLI DACICI A TRAIANO CAESARE GESTI PUBLISHED IN 1616 130 DOUBLE PAGED PLATES TWO FOLDING PLATES TEXT BY ALFONSO CIACONO ARTWORK CREATED BY RAPHAEL AND HIS PUPILS GIULIO ROMANO AND GIOVANNI POLYDORO This "HISTORIA UTRISQUE BELLI DACICI" is a massive work depicting Trajan's column which still stands in Rome.  One of its folding plates renders the exterior of the column, the other folding column shows its interior. There are a few plates depicting its construction or architecture, and then come 130 double paged plates which basically follow the column upward as it renders all the scenes depicted on the column.  These illustrations tell the story of Trajan's conquest of the Dacians, who occupied present day Romania, and the illustrations were rendered by Raphael and his atelier (Giulio Romano and Giovanni Polydoro).  The explanatory text in the front of the book is by a Spaniard, Alfonso Chacon, or Ciacono, and it is given in Latin, the lingua franca of the time. This book is extremely rare, needless to say, with no copies in any state currently available on the Internet, and as far as I could determine, no similar copies in any of the major libraries of the world.  The book was published, or typeset, by Jacobi Mascardi of Rome in 1616.  The book is in fine condition.  The modern full calf binding is beautiful, and the book is as tight as can be.  The title page has some very old handwritten ink and some age toning -- more toning and light foxing than anywhere else in the book.  The margins of the plate pages are toned as well, but the plates, and the pages in general, are remarkably clean, especially when considering the age.  I have found one half-inch tear in a margin of a plate page, not touching the plate, but otherwise, the pages in wonderfully intact condition.  Seldom does one come across a seventeenth century book in such pristine condition, and this is early seventeenth century. I offer this book without reserve.  Insurance is required on shipping.  Otherwise, I am most flexible about method of shipping -- UPS, USPS, FEDEX, etc. are all fine.  Cashier's check or money order are preferred mode of payment, but Paypal will be accepted.   Place a Bid!