OneRareBook.com, by Addison's Rare Books & Bindery

Well printed treatise on Roman antiquities and law by the Italian humanist Alessandro Alessandri (1461-1523).  Alessandri was an Italian lawyer during the Renaissance who left his profession because of his dissatisfaction with the so-called corrupt government.  This particular work is mainly a study in philology, to which he devoted much of his life, and also includes commentaries by several legal scholars.

The condition is very nice, starting with original paneled calf boards.  The spine leather is darkened, the labels have long since vanished, rubbing/bumping with loss in all the usual places (spine ends, corners).  The binding has been cleaned, restored and preserved to prevent further deterioration and to allow for worry-free handling.  The text block of the first volume (the thicker volume) is partially cracked about midway through, but all of the cords are strong and the binding is sound in construction. Book can be handled and read without worry.  The hinges are cracked but the 5 cords all holding with the exception of one board with only 3 of the 5 cords unbroken...but inner hinges have also been repaired, so all in all, the construction is very sound and all boards are very well attached.  Again, the book may be handled with no worries!  We considered putting new spines on these volumes but we found that the construction was sound, and the imperfections of the original spines added a certain character to the presentation.

Internally, each volume features engraved titles, and the condition is extremely clean with the exception of the last and first few leaves which have minimal foxing/toning.  Beyond this, the pages are very bright and crisp.  This is a very well preserved example in its original calf binding.  Some marking to front paste-downs as well as the finely engraved ex-libris plate of former owner (James Adam Esq.)