Eckhel’s Catalogue of the Vienna Cabinet

[Vienna]. Eckhel, Josephus. CATALOGUS MUSEI CAESAREI VINDOBONENSIS NUMORUM VETERUM DISTRIBUTUS IN PARTES II. QUARUM PRIOR MONETAM URBIUM, POPULORUM, REGUM, ALTERA ROMANORUM COMPLECTITUR. Vindobonae: Sumptibus Joannis Pauli Kraus, 1779. Two volumes, bound in one. Folio [45 by 29 cm], contemporary full red morocco, both sides paneled in gilt; spine with six raised bands, lettered and decorated in gilt; green spine label lettered in gilt; gilt turn-ins; marbled endpapers; all page edges gilt. (36), 292, (14) + (4), 562, (2) pages; titles printed in red and black; superbly engraved allegorical headpiece depicting coins in each volume; woodcut initials; woodcut and finely engraved tailpieces; 6 + 2 well-engraved plates of ancient coins. Binding with minor rubbing and wear to extremities; old tab placed between the two parts; small numerical label at base of spine. Contents nearly fine, in an attractive sound binding. Joseph Hilarius Eckhel (1737–1798) has been justly regarded as the “father of ancient numismatics” and his Doctrina numorum veterum 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. This major work of his is rarely encountered—it was lacking from the Kreindler Library. Brunet 29738. Dekesel E35. Graesse page 461. Lipsius 109. Strandberg (addenda) 175. Ex Josephi Capycii-Latro Library, with his engraved bookplate; ex Biblioteca Caproni, Vizzola, with its bookplate; ex Patricia Milne-Henderson Library.