[Catacombs/Rome] Boldetti, Marcantonio: Observations on the cemeteries of the holy martyrs and ancient Christians of Rome. In Rome, Maria Salvioni 1720

Large in-4° format, mm. 360x255, pp. (16), 326 / (2), 327-650, 651-808. Contemporary full parchment binding with 6 ribs, gold titles on the spine. Marbled edges of the leaves. With defects and losses on the spine (small wormholes), light browning and sporadic foxing. Old ink note on the front flyleaf. With 2 copperplate frontispieces (Puccetti inv. & Philipp: Vascorius Sculp.), 2 frontispieces printed in black and red with woodcut vignette, copperplate initials, copperplate headpieces and tailpieces and woodcut initials; speaking copperplate initial signed “Brughi inv.” on paper π3r; copperplate headpiece signed “Romae Typis Io: M.ae Salvioni | I. Freij Sc.” on A1r paper; numerous chalcographic and woodcut illustrations within the text; text in two columns; roman, italic.

Observations on the cemeteries of the holy martyrs and ancient Christians of Rome. Added to this is a series of all those which have been discovered up to the present time; and of other similar ones which are found in various parts of the world: with some practical reflections on the Cult of Sacred Relics. Book One-Third, to the Holiness of Our Lord Pope Clement XI. In Rome, at Gio. Maria Salvioni, Vatican Printer, in the Archiginnasio della Sapienza, 1720. Work of the theologian Marcantonio Boldetti (1663-1749). Bonaventura was confirmed in the office of secret almoner (to which he had been called by Pope Pignatelli in 1691), and having become canon of S. Maria in Trastevere, he was nominated by the new pontiff Clement XI as custodian of the relics and cemeteries.