Italy. Lombardia. Gnecchi, F. & E. Le monete di Milano da Carlo Magno a Vittorio Emanuele II. Milan; Fratelli Dumolard, 1884. Folio, pp. title page printed in red and black, xcv, (3), 256, (4) pages; tables; 58 fine heliotype plates of coins. [With:] Gnecchi, F. & E. Monete di Milano. Inedite. Supplemento all’opera: “Le monete di Milano da Carlo Magno a Vittorio Emanuele II” pubblicata nel 1884 da F. ed E. Gnecchi. Milano; L. F. Cogliati, 1894. Tall 4to., pp. 107, (1); illustrations in the text. Both works from the library of Vittorio Emanuele III. The main title beautifully bound in full contemporary vellum, elaborately gilt to boards and spine, raised bands with coloured morocco title labels in compartments, lettered in gilt, all edges gilt. Signed by both Francesco and Ercole Gnecchi on the dedication page, with the later ownership inscription of Vittorio Emanuele III, ‘Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia, Napoli, 1891’ following, above the distinctive purple circular stamp of the ‘Raccolta Numismatica Principe di Napoli’. Almost all of the plates neatly annotated, also in the hand of Vittorio Emanuele. The supplement also attractively bound in half vellum and marbled boards with the original printed wrappers preserved, the spine neatly lettered in black. Inscribed by the authors to ‘S. A. R. Principe di Napoli’ on the original upper wrapper, with the ownership inscription of Vittorio Emanuele (‘V. E. di Savoia’) on the title, and the stamp of the ‘Raccolta Numismatica Principe di Napoli’ below. Both volumes shelf worn, the main text heavily used with the spine chipped and the lower half of the backstrip loose but repairable. The contents of both works clean throughout. A superb set of the classic work on the coinage of Milan, complete with the later supplement of corrections and additions, both from the library of Vittorio Emanuele. The main work number 2 of only 300 copies printed, this copy clearly one of a very small number of specially bound presentation copies, presented to and used by the King of Italy with his ownership inscription in both works, and his numerous manuscript notes in the former. The fundamental work on the coinage of Milan, from the library of Italy’s most famous numismatist. Of the utmost importance and rarely offered, particularly with such an impeccable provenance. Unique thus. (2)
Bassoli p.72. Cifferi p. 208. Clain-Stefanelli 10303*. Gnecchi p. 210. Grierson p. 164.