Bibliothecae Josephi Renati Imperialis...Catalogus Secundum Auctorum cognomina ordine alphabetico dispositus, una cum altero Catalogo Scientiarum & artium. [Compiled by Giusto Fontanini] -

[Compiled by Giusto Fontanini]. Large engraved vignette on title & woodcut initials throughout the text. 1 p.l., v, [1], 738 pp. Folio, cont. calf (neatly rebacked by Aquarius with the orig. spine laid-down, corners repaired), spine richly gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. Rome: F. Gonzaga, 1711. First edition of the catalogue of Cardinal Imperiali's large (ca. 20,000 titles) and magnificent library bequeathed to the public upon his death in 1737. This rich and varied catalogue of rare and early books is arranged alphabetically by author in the first part (pp. 1-582), which was a fairly advanced technique for the time. Pages 583-738 contain the titles rearranged into subject categories. "The care shown in describing and classifying the books makes the Imperiali catalogue and its subject-index a good source of information about seventeenth-century books."-Taylor, General Subject-Indexes since 1548, p. 185. Very good and crisp copy. Old stamp of the library of "Burggrafen zu Dohna" on verso of title. Fifteen leaves with a short marginal tear. ❧ Peignot, pp. 104-05-"Catalogue bien fait et très utile...Il seroit à desirer que les catalogues des grandes bibliothèques fussent ainsi rédigés...Le cardinal Imperiali fit présent au public de sa riche bibliothèque, lorsqu'il mourut en 1737." Pollard & Ehrman, p. 262-"the Imperiali catalogue of 1711 by Giusto Fontanini includes under each author's name all his contributions to the periodicals and miscellanies in the library as well as his separately published books. For this reason it was recognised as a useful work of reference on its own"; see also pp. 263-64 & no. 332. Taylor, Book Catalogues, pp. 24. 104-05, 108, 114, 117, 226, 228, & 246.[Compiled by Giusto Fontanini].