A 1694 first edition of the Swiss born architect Carlo Fontana’s Templum Vaticanum.
Illustrated with 70 plates, 10 double-page or folding, this historical description of the Vatican buildings, which included Fontana’s project for completing St Peter’s, was written at the order of Pope Innocent XI.
He died in 1689 and the papal arms that feature on the red morocco gilt binding by Andreoli are those of one of his successors, Pope Clement IX, who took office in 1700.
This fine copy, part of a Sotheby’s Rome (25/20/12.9% buyer’s premium) sale of the Sergio Rossetti library, sold at €26,000 (£22,880).
