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LASSELS,, Richard (1603?--1668)
The voyage of Italy, or a compleat journey through Italy. In two parts. With the characters of the people, and the description of the chief towns, churches, monasteries, tombs, libraries, pallaces, villa's, gardens, pictures, statues, and antiquities. As also of the interest, government, riches, force, &c. of all the princes. With instructions concerning travel. By Richard Lassels, Gent. who travelled through Italy five times, as tutor to several of the English nobility and gentry. Never before extant.
Newly printed at Paris [i.e. London?]:, and are to be sold in London, by John Starkey,, 1670.
[44], 251, [5], 3--162 [i.e. 192], 195--447, [5] p., add. engr. t.-pl. ; 15.4 cm. (12º)

The imprint is false; compositorial practices (i.e. signings with arabic numerals) suggest the book was printed in London rather than Paris. Another edition (q.v.), printed on the continent, has all signings with roman numerals. This work became the most influential English guide book of the period, and the basis for many subsequent guides and travel accounts. It encouraged the nascent phenomenon of the grand tour, a term originally coined by Lassels, and was published posthumously with a dedication signed by S. Wilson to Richard, Viscount Waterford, in whose service Lassels was at the time of his death. Part I has an added engraved title-plate. Part II has separate dated title-page, with imprint 'Printed at Paris by Vincent du Moutier' and separate pagination and register. Leaf L12 is blank. Page 192 of part II misnumbered 162. Wing L465; ESTC r233773; A. Wilton and I. Bignamini (eds.), Grand tour: the lure of Italy in the eighteenth century, exh. cat. Tate Gallery (London 1996), cat. no. 51.

Copy Notes With the engraved title-plate bound as frontispiece. Blank leaf at end of pt. I unopened. Inscribed in pencil on front free-endpaper 7.6. Inscribed in ink on rear pastedown S/R.

Binding C17th mottled calf, blind double-rule borders, blind-tooled corner pieces, gilt-rule and blind double-rule spine, black spine-label.

Reference Number 2598

Additional Names Wilson, Simon (fl.$1670)


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