Piranesi (Giovanni Battista) Della Magnificenza ed Architettura de' Romani, engraved pictorial titles in Latin & Italian and portrait of Pope Clement XIII, text in Latin & Italian on facing leaves, 38 engraved plates, 8 double-page and 4 folding, engraved pictorial initials and 2 illustrations, Rome, 1761; Osservazioni...sopra la lettre de M. Mariette..., engraved pictorial title and 9 engraved plates, 6 double-page, no text (as issued), plate 1 bound upside down and with tiny scratch to image, [Paris], 1765, together 2 works in 1 vol., first editions, excellent impressions on thick laid paper, James Paine's copy with his ink inscription "J.Paine...Archt. Rome 1767" to title of first work and on front free endpaper, occasional light foxing to text of first work but plates very clean, contemporary half vellum, red morocco label, rubbed, spine a little worn, [cf.Millard Italian 99, second edition], folio

⁂ Piranesi's lavish and erudite contribution to the Graeco-Roman debate of the period, where he illustrates the decorative inventions of the Romans, and outlines his theories regarding the originality of Italy over Greece. The second work was issued as a supplement to the first but this Paris edition was issued without text.

James Paine (1717-89), architect, designer of the stables at Chatsworth and houses for several Catholic noblemen, author of Plans, Elevations and Sections of Noblemen and Gentlemen's Houses of 1767-83 (see lot 190).