Istituzione antiquario-lapidaria o sia introduzione allo studio delle antiche latine iscrizioni in tre libri proposta.

Roma, (In Roma), A spese di Venanzio Monaldini Mercante di Libri, nella stamperia di Giovanni Zempel, 1770. 8vo. XL,532 (recte 536) p. Contemporary boards. 23 cm (Ref: Brunet 6,2 nr.29897; Graesse 6/2,502, where the second edition of Venice 1793 is mentioned; Ebert 24208, also mentioning 1793) (Details: A contemporary cardboard binding in good condition. Engraved printer's device on the title, depicting a winged Fama who holds her trumpet; the motto reads: 'Utilitate Bonarum Artium'; at her feet marble fragments of inscriptions; from the trumpet hangs a banner with the initials of the proud sponsor Venanzio Monaldini. Facsimile inscriptions throughout. Short title in ink on the back) (Condition: Some wear to the extremes. Some slight foxing. French title inscribed by a contemporary hand. Title slightly foxed) (Note: Sommervogel ascribes 161 works to the prolific Italian scholar and Jesuit Francesco Antonio Zaccaria, or Zacharias, 1714-1795. He published on church history, theology, canon law, but also on archaeology and Italian literature. He succeeded as librarian and archivist of the Ducal library of Modena the famous historian Muratori. Later he was appointed professor of church history at the Sapienza University of Rome. § The 18th century saw a deepening of the science of epigraphy; much emphasis was laid on the importance of historical sources, such as inscriptions and coins. There was a demand for well edited and trustworthy collections and manuals. With his 'Istituzione' Zaccaria published a manual devided into 3 books: 1: 'Del pregio, e dell'eccellenza delle latine iscrizioni', 2: 'Della tessitura delle antiche iscrizioni', 3: 'Delle intelligenza delle iscrizioni', and illuminated with numerous examples. The manual saw a second edition in 1793 and was also translated into Spanish; Zaccaria wrote also a manual on numismatics) (Collation: a8, b12, A-Q8, R10, S-2I8, 2K10. Pagination error in gathering R: 253/6 is repeated) (Photographs on request)