Les restes de l'ancienne Rome, recherchez avec soin, mesurez, dessinez sur les lieux, & gravez par feu Bonaventure d'Overbeke [...]. Imprimé aux dépens de Michel d'Overbeke.

3 parts in 1 vol., folio: [26 incl. front.]-91, [2]-85, [2]-65 pp.; 149 pl. (plan of Rome sl. spotted, few spots throughout).

Contemp. marbled sheep, triple gilt fillet on boards, richly gilt spine with raised bands (joints starting to split, tail missing and head sl. damaged, corners bumped).

First French translation by Le Clerc (1st Latin ed. 1708) of the most important work on the remnants of Ancient Rome of the 18th c. Abundantly illustrated (complete) with a front., a title-vignette (repeated), a dedication pl., portrait of the author, a double-paged plan of Rome and 146 pl. (1 pl. of Colosseum on double-p.), completed with numerous in-text engr. Each pl. is followed by 1 to 3 explanatory pp. Part 1 focuses mainly on ancient gates and temples, part 2 on arches and obelisks, part 3 on hills and the Colosseum (12 pl.). A former student of Lairesse, Overbeke (1660-1706) made several trips to Rome where he completed many drawings of ruins. Upon returning, he started this extensive work but died before it was completed. His nephew Michiel published it 3 years later.
Ref. Berlin Kat. 1872. - Not in Cicognara or Fowler.