PIACENZA Francesco, “L Egeo Redivivo, o sia Chorographia dell Archipelago ... con la breve descrittione ... della Grecia, Morea, oPeloponnese, di Candia, e Cipri…”, Modena, Soliani heirs, 1688. FIRST EDITION. 4to (21.2 x 15.5 cm), pp. viii, 684.

COMPLETE including all sixty three (63) maps of which 3 folding (maps of Morea, Crete & Cyprus). Additional engraved title page, engraved portrait of Francesco II dEste, Duke of Modena and engraved Coat of arms of the Duke of Modena. Woodcut chapter ornaments, headpieces and engraved initials.

Francesco Piacenza (1637-1687) was an Italian jurist, diplomat, geographer and famous chess player. In the 1680s, he was employed by the Duke of Modena, Francesco II de Este to travel to the Aegean and make a description and map thereof. After his exploration of the Aegean islands, he wrote a thorough description of the Aegean Sea, with maps of all the islands, including also small parts of Central Greece and the Peloponnese. Based on his first hand information and using material from earlier isolaria, and nautical and geographical works, Piacenza has reached “a very thorough and systematic description of the Aegean islands” (Blackmer), with 63 detailed maps and approximately 700 pages of rich descriptive texts. The work was published posthumously and it includes engravings of excellent quality. The edition is completed by an extremely interesting index. Piacenza’s work was a major source for Coronelli’s Isolario.

Light marginal spotting, most of maps in very fine condition, a few other marks (including a stain along fold of folding Crete map), repaired closed tear to engraved title, map at p.146 faintly printed, old repairs to lower outer corners of front free endpaper, repaired marginal small worm-tracks in v-vi & pp.7-16, Ex-Libris “Trevisani” bookplate to title verso.

Contemporary Binding: full vellum, slightly marked, with title in gilt on spine.

Blackmer 1305, Stylianou 134. Zacharakis 2628-90.