Rome Italy Roma Italia 53 hand colored prints c. 1860's large unique view album

(Old Books, 19th Century Books, Leather Books, Plate Books, Italy, Rome, Architectural Views).

Vedute di Roma.
Created c. 1860's-70's (? earlier).

53 beautifully hand colored images, all mounted long ago onto the larger album pages. Many of the images neatly labeled in ink long ago at bottom right corner, some images unidentified.

Early 1/4 leather binding, gilt title lettering, oblong format. Perhaps a custom binding done for a single owner who gathered these images- doesn't appear to be commercially produced (no title page or any other letterpress text).

Each image looks almost like a small painting and would be frameable as such, the colorist was a very skilled artist. Each image mounted to the thick almost card stock paper backing, each image hand outlined long ago to create a sort of visual frame for it.

Album is physically old and shows some signs of handling and time. Book is not new or in "new" condition. A couple leaves are detached with some edge chipping (way out in blank margin, no where near the image).

Binding gently age worn, joints scuffed, leather a bit worn with surface scrapes, still attractive and supple, couple leaves detached with edge wear, mostly light or inoffensive signs of handling and time but nothing severe or unsightly, book remains overall attractive as an object.

Views mostly clean, a few with some old and minor stains of adhesions to the edges, gently toned, still tight, sound internally. Much nicer collection of Italian views than typical.

Still attractive on the shelf. The book displays a pleasing and unique age patina and is in overall nice antiquarian condition, any age flaws which may be present seem easy to overlook or forgive. 

Please review photos for more detail showing how this unique book survives. The asking price reflects the condition based on our examination and 40+ years full time exposure to antiquarian books, maps and printed ephemera of all types and genres. Flaws seen and/ or described have been taken into account.

Book Measures c. 9 1/2" H x 12 1/2" W.

Each image c. 5 1/4" H x 7 1/4" W.

[B11821].