A Finely Bound First Edition Set of Eckhel

Eckhel, Joseph. DOCTRINA NUMORUM VETERUM. PARS I. DE NUMIS URBIUM, POPULORUM, REGUM. VOLUMEN I–IV. PARS II. DE MONETA ROMANORUM. VOLUMEN V–VIII. First edition. Vindobonae: Sumptibus Josephi Vincentii Degen / Josephi Camesina, Impressit Ignatius Alberti, 1792–1798. Eight volumes, complete. 4to [24.5 by 19.5 cm], somewhat later [1840s] matching English speckled calf signed by Clarke & Bedford; sides bordered in double gilt filets; spines with five raised bands, ruled, lettered and richly decorated in gilt; red and green morocco spine labels, gilt; board edges ruled in gilt; marbled endpapers; all page edges red. (26), clxxxiii, (1), 271, (1) + (6), 606 + (6), 562 + (8), 563, (1) + (8), 364 + (28), 539, (1) + (6), 521, (1) + (8), 573, (1) pages; engraved plate of Paleographia Graecorum ex numis; engraved plate of Alphabetum Phoenicium et Samaritanum; 2 engraved plates of Greek coins [Numi Goltziani. Numi veri.]; engraved plate of Greek coins and cameos; 2 folding genealogical tables; engraved plate of Roman monograms; woodcut tailpieces. [final volume bound with] ADDENDUM AD ECKHELII DOCTRINAM NUMORUM VETERUM EX EIUSDEM AUTOGRAPHO POSTUMO. Vindobonae: Sumptibus Friderici Volke, 1826. xvi, 58, (4) pages. Slight rubbing to board extremities, with some light wear to spine heads and tails; occasional weakness to joints; moderate spotting, with very occasional faults, none of them significant. Very good or better. [with] Eckhel, Joseph. NUMI VETERES ANECDOTI EX MUSEIS CAESAREO VINDOBONENSI, FLORENTINO MAGNI DUCIS ETRURIAE, GRANELLIANO NUNC CAESAREO, VITZAIANO, FESTETICSIANO, SAVORGNANO VENETO, ALIISQUE. PARS I. COMPLECTENS NUMOS IN EUROPAE URBIBUS SIGNATOS. [bound with, as always] PARS II. COMPLECTENS NUMOS IN ASIAE, ET AFRICAE URBIBUS SIGNATOS, QUIBUS ADDUNTUR NUMI INCERTI, ET NONNULLI LATINE INSCRIPTI. Viennae: Typis Josephi Kurzböck, Caes. Reg. Aulae Illyr. Orient., 1775. 4to [24.5 by 19.5 cm], somewhat later [1840s] English speckled calf signed by Clarke & Bedford, matching the accompanying set of the Doctrina; sides bordered in double gilt filets; spines with five raised bands, ruled, lettered and richly decorated in gilt; red and green morocco spine labels, gilt; board edges ruled in gilt; marbled endpapers; all page edges red. (16), 318, (1) pages; engraved text illustrations; 17 engraved plates of coins; woodcut headpieces and tailpieces. Front joint cracked and in need of attention; contents near fine. The scarce first edition of one of the major foundation works of modern scholarly numismatics, accompanied by Eckhel’s first published work, all in a handsome signed binding. Father Joseph Hilarius Eckhel (1737–1798), is regarded as the “father of ancient numismatics” and his Doctrina as the major exposition of his principles. “With him began a new era in the study of ancient numismatics: rigid scientific methods entered the field of research supplementing the usual approach of the amateur. For the first time in its history the basic elements of ancient Greek and Roman numismatics—metals, ponderal systems, organization of mints, significance of coin-types, coins in their relation to the history of art—are amply discussed.”—Clain-Stefanelli, Numismatics, page 29. Bassoli referred to Eckhel as “the definitive organiser of classical numismatics” (Antiquarian Books on Coins and Medals, page 36). Even an icon like Hubert Goltz was not immune from Eckhel’s strict demands for accuracy: his two plates of coins are intended to compare the engravings found in Goltzius with realistic engravings of the coins as they actually exist. Both the first and second editions are bibliographically complex. Clarke & Bedford, the firm that bound this set, only existed from 1841 to 1850, allowing us to date the binding with particular accuracy. Babelon 127–128: “still our main work of reference.” Bassoli 39-41. Clain-Stefanelli 1643*. Daehn 62. Dekesel E40. Hennin 27 & 28. Lipsius 110. The inclusion of Eckhel’s Numi veteres anecdoti (1775) in a matching binding is highly welcome. Eckhel credited Froelich with introducing him to numismatics in this rare work. Babelon 127: “a selection of coins taken from the collections of the Grand Duke of Tuscany kept at Florence, as well as from the collections of Granelli, Wiczay, Festeticz, the Venetian Savorgnano, and several others.” Dekesel E34. Lipsius 109.