LUCRETIUS (94-55 BCE). Della natura delle cose. Translated by Alessandro Marchetti. Amsterdam [i.e. Paris]: for the editor, 1754.

A richly illustrated and handsomely printed edition on large paper of Lucretius’s poem of ancient atomism.The majority of the plates are after Charles-Nicolas Cochin, whose fine contribution towards this publication was never matched in his later work. Ray calls this edition “the model for the sumptuous Rococo volumes of the ensuing twenty-five years.” Cohen-de Ricci 665-6; ; Ray, The Art of the French Illustrated Book9.

Two volumes, octavo (225 x 141mm). Engraved frontispiece and title page in each volume after Eisen; 6 engraved plates by Lemire, Aliamet and others after Charles-Nicolas Cochin and Le Lorrain; 7 vignette head-pieces and 5 vignette tail-pieces, most after Cochin (some spotting and toning). Contemporary French red morocco with gilt dentelle borders, edges gilt (light wear at extremities). Provenance: Guglielmo Plainti [?] (signature on rear flyleaf of vol 1, signed “Firenze”) – Georges de Bièvre (bookplate) – Marchal (bookplate).