ROSSINI,, Pietro (fl. 1704)
[Mercurio errante. 1704]

Il Mercurio errante delle grandezze di Roma, tanto antiche, che moderne di Pietro Rossini ... In questa seconda edizione diligentemente revisto, e corretto dall'istesso autore, ed ampliato ...

In Roma (Place), per Antonio de' Rossi. Si vendono da Gaetano Capranica,, 1704.
2 vols ; 14.2 cm. (12º)
I: [8], 156, [4] p.
II: [4], 190, [16] p.

The Mercurio Errante, first published in 1693, was one of the most popular Roman guide books in the eighteenth century. Soane owned copies of three other editions including the seventh edition of 1750 with plates engraved by G.B. Piranesi (q.v.).

Copy Notes One of Soane's four editions of Il Mercurio errante was bought from Thomas Boone on 5 July 1815 for 2s. (Spiers Box). The present copy is inscribed in ink on front free-endpaper Alexr Forrester (?). Possibly to be identified with Alexander Forrester who travelled as the governor of Sir Richard Grosvenor, 4th Baronet (1689--1732) on his grand tour in 1706, and returned to Padua on his own in 1709. (See Ingamells s.v. Grosvenor, pp. 435--6.) With an ink annotation in Italian about Leonardo da Vinci on the verso of the back free-endpaper.

Binding Early C18th vellum, two volumes bound as one, spine direct-lettered in ink with a decorative calligraphic flourish.

Reference Number 3220

Additional Names Forrester, Alexander