Remarks on the Antiquities of Rome and Its Environs: Being a Classical and Topographical Survey of the Ruins of that Celebrated City. Illustrated with Engravings.

  • Lumisden, Andrew
  • London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. 1797
  • ESTC T125056.

£450

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Description

FIRST EDITION, 4to, pp. [iv], 478, [12] + frontispiece and 11 plates (including 2 large folding maps). Plate III bound out of order. Contemporary tree calf, spine divided by raised bands between gilt rules and flat black-dyed bands, green morocco label, edges sponge-marbled red. Some foxing and light soiling, small wormtrail to bottom margin of first 100 pages, one folding plate with handling tears to folds. A little rubbed and scratched, joints and front hinge cracking, spine creased and slightly worn at head. Inscription ‘Bemersyde’ to recto of frontipiece.

Notes

'A thorough description of those classical remains still extant in the city' (ODNB), this volume is the result of Lumisden's decades-long research and surveying of Rome, extending to Tivoli. The Appendices explore the Praeneste, Albano and Herculaneum. 'The book was well received and ran to a second edition in 1812' (ODNB).
This copy is from the library at Bemersyde, and likely belonged to James Haig (1758-1840), 24th Laird of Bemersyde, a close friend of Sir Walter Scott. That would make it something of an association copy: Haig's diary includes a visit to Versailles with Lumisden in 1783. Lumisden had followed the Old Pretender to Rome - the starting point of this work - but after falling out with Bonnie Prince Charlie moved to Paris, where he frequently hosted visitors on the Grand Tour. By 1783 he had been pardoned for his Jacobite service but still divided his time between Scotland and the Continent.

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