ZABAGLIA, Nicola (1674-1750) - Contignationes ac pontes.. Castelli e ponti. Rome: Niccolo e Marco Pagliarini, 1743.   First edition of this splendid work dedicated to the history of the construction of St. Peter's in Rome and the building techniques of the time, edited by Niccola Zabaglia, the chief engineer responsible for the design of the machines and scaffolding used in the maintenance of the building. A work preciously illustrated with plates depicting the machinery designed by Domenico Fontana for the transport of the Vatican obelisk, images of the decorators at work and a portrait of the author at the desk with the model of a pulley system.   Folio (478 x 365mm). Engraved frontispiece with portrait of the author designed by Pietro Leone Ghezzi and engraved by Girolamo Rossi, engraved vignettes on the two titles in Latin and Italian, 55 plates numbered I-LIIII of which 4 folding and with the addition of a second copy of plate XIII, after Alessandro Francesco Rostagni, Pietro Leone Ghezzi and Carlo Fontana and engraved by Giacomo Sangermano, Martin Schedel, Francesco Duflos, Francesco Mazzoni, Angelo Guiducci, Miguel de Sorello, Paolo Pilaia, Giuseppe Vasi (some foxing, heavier at first title and in the margins of some plates, two text leaves bound upside down, a few occasional tears, plates XXVII-XLV with a small wormtrace in the inner upper margin far from the engraving, plate L with a crease, some light marginal waterstains not touching the engravings). Contemporary half calf over decorated paper, title in gilt on spine label (rather worn).

Estimate € 800 - 1,200

Sold € 1,700