Froelich’s 1738 Numismatic Observations

Froelich, Erasmus. ANIMADVERSIONES IN QUOSDAM NUMOS VETERES URBIUM. Viennæ: Typis Mariæ Theresiæ Voigtin, Viduæ, 1738. First edition. Small 8vo [16 by 10.5 cm], contemporary brown pasteboard covers; spine ruled in gilt; red morocco spine label, gilt; all page edges red. (4), 108, (8) pages; woodcut headpieces, tailpiece and initials; 6 engraved plates, 5 of them depicting ancient Greek coins. Inscription from year of publication on title; previous owner signatures. Near fine. The rare first edition of this work, written by Eckhel’s teacher, the famous and prolific Jesuit numismatist Erasmus Froelich. A later edition, revised and augmented by Antonio Francesco Gori, was published in 1751. Babelon 114–115: “Erasmus Froelich (1700–1758), librarian at the Theresianum at Vienna and Professor of Archaeology, valued numismatics above all else, and his writings, although since surpassed by Eckhel’s, were responsible for significant progress in the field.” Dekesel F196. Hirsch 44. Lipsius 135.