[Jean-Claude Richard, abbé de SAINT-NON]. - Lot 2

[Jean-Claude Richard, abbé de SAINT-NON]. Voyage pittoresque ou Description des Royaumes de Naples et de Sicile... Paris, s.n. (Imprimerie Clousier), 1781-1786. 4 volumes in 5 volumes in-folio, blond calf, chain and fillets framed with corner fleurons, spines with 6 nerves nicely decorated with small irons, interior Greek, marbled edges, modern cases (Binding of the period). Blackmer, 1473 / Brunet, V-55 / Cohen, 928 / Graesse, VI-1er-225. I. (2f.)-(1f.gra.)-XIII-(1f.)-252-47 pl.-3 cartes-1 plan / II. (2f.)-XXVIII-78-(1f.)-79 to 108-(3f.)-109 to 283-81 pl.-2 maps / III. (2f.)-IV-XL-130-(3f.)-22-131 to 201-60 pl.-4 maps / IV. (2f.)-II-(2f.)-XVIII-266-68 pl.-3 maps / V. (2f.)-IV-(1f.)-267 to 429-35 pl. First edition and first print run of this superb voyage describing the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, one of the first fine works of this kind to appear in France (Brunet). The text is by Jean-Claude Richard, abbé de Saint-Non, born in Paris in 1727 and died in 1791, who conceived the project for this edition at the instigation of Benjamin de Laborde, author of Description générale et particulière de la France. The work is the counterpart of the latter, for southern Italy. Saint-Non commissioned Vivant Denon to travel to southern Italy, accompanied by brilliant artists and scholars, in order to bring back the elements needed to complete this work. The publication of this voyage is one of the most extensive undertakings of its kind attempted in the 18th century. Other contributors to the work include Chamfort for the précis historique sur Naples et la Sicile, Vivant Denon for the description of Sicily, Deodat de Dolomieu for the mineralogical section, Faujas de Saint-Fond for geology, Romé de l'Isle for natural history, d'Ennery for numismatics... The illustrations include 5 fleurons on the titles, a dedicatory epistle to the Queen designed and engraved by the author, 277 plates, 14 plates of medals, 12 maps and a hors-texte plan, as well as 13 headpieces and 101 culs-de-lampe, all designed by Cochin, Duplessi-Bertaux, Fragonard, Hubert-Robert, Saint-Non, J.-B. Tierce... and engraved on copper by Couché, Duplessi-Bertaux, Fessard, Ghendt, Le Mire, Le Roy, Saint-Aubin, Saint-Non... A very fine first-edition copy in contemporary binding. The phallus plate (Vol. II, p. 52) is missing, as is often the case. Ex-libris Some minor spotting and damage to hinges; minor old restorations and missing headband on volume II. Several leaves and plates browned; 6 leaves reversed at end of volume II. Provenance: Estate of an enlightened amateur.