Il Mercurio Errante
1732
Pietro Rossini Il Mercurio errante delle grandezze di Roma, tanto antiche, che moderne. Rome, 1732. Gio. Zempel 16mo; 286 pp; complete; fifth, enlarged edition. Contemporary vellum, spine with 7 raised bands and calligraphed title. Text in Italian. Speckled edges; loss of vellum on the upper board; corners rubbed; binding sound; headcaps in good condition; very attractive patina. Interior fresh; a pleasant copy. Engraved frontispiece in good condition. It bears the motto: "Virentibus revertitur foliis. Disce ubi sit prudentia" — It returns to life with the new leaves. Learn where wisdom lies. Il Mercurio is one of the first travel guides, going through 10 editions between 1693 and 1789. This revised and enriched guide presents in detail the monuments, churches, palaces and squares of Rome. Intended for travellers on the Grand Tour, it combines historical precision with a practical approach, offering a precious testimony to the topography, architecture and artistic taste of Rome in this period.
A travel guide to Rome, published in 1732. It was intended for travellers on the Grand Tour. It went through 10 enlarged editions over nearly 100 years, of which we present here the 5th.
