Ongania, Ferdinando, publisher and editor.

Plate volumes with 791 plates, comprising:



Il Tesoro di San Marco. 1885, folio, 100 plates, including 21 chromolithographed, numbered 1-93 (and 7 extra plates), a very few with spotting
La Basilica di San Marco. 1881, elephant folio, 45 chromolithographed plates (see footnote), first 2 plates torn in margin (title and dedication), a few plates spotted
La Basilica di San Marco [appendix: La processione del Doge]. 1881, elephant folio, 35 plates, comprising numbers 1-17, 8 bis numbers (and 2 extra plates), and appendix with 8 plates, one plate (II2) with tear into image without loss
Mosaici non compresi negli spaccati geometrici nell'interno della Basilica de San Marco. 1881, folio, 116 plain plates, numbered 1-62 (and 54 extra plates), somewhat spotted
Dettagli del pavimento ed ornamenti in mosaico della Basilica di San Marco. 1881, folio, 69 hand-coloured engraved plates, numbered 1-38 and A-Z (plus 6 bis plates and no plate J)
Dettagli di altari, monumenti, scultura ecc. della Basilica di San Marco. 1881, folio, 426 plates with heliotypes by C. Jacobi, numbered 1-391 (but including some with 2 numbers to a plate and also some bis plates), many of the plates with two or more images, somewhat spotted



13 volumes, folio and elephant folio, all plates loose as issued in original portfolios with ties (cloth or cloth-backed boards, 420 x 325mm. or 740 x 570mm.), housed in contemporary half vellum boxes (505 x 390mm. or 780 x 620mm.), lacking some ties, labels on portfolio upper covers spotted, boxes somewhat worn



Text volumes including:



Boito, C. La Basilique de St Marc. 1889-1890, 3 vol., 4to, original wrappers, unopened or uncut, tear in lower joint vol.1, in 2 half vellum boxes (oblong 4to, 235 x 320mm.)
Boito, C. La Basilica di San Marco. 1888-1892, 3 vol., folio, plates, illustrations, original wrappers, folio half vellum box, vol.3 seemingly incomplete
Documenti per la storia dell'augusta ducale Basilica di San Marco. 1886, folio, chromolithographed frontispiece, original wrappers, uncut, in a boards portfolio, in a folio half vellum box; and 2 prospectuses or offprints in same box: La Basilica di San Marco, 1881 and Raccolta di Fac-simili, n.d.
Pasini, A. Il Tesoro di San Marco. 1886, folio, plates, illustrations, original wrappers, uncut, in a boards portfolio, in a folio half vellum box
and 4 other related vol. by Moliner and Veludo

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A magnificent and exhaustive work documenting the Basilica of St Mark in Venice, undertaken with the support of John Ruskin, following disputed restoration work to the Basilica's south facade in 1865-75.

The printed contents leaves in these volumes are somewhat erratic. For example, although the elephant folio volume of La Basilica di San Marco containing the chromolithographs suggests there should be 60 plates, it seems that it is complete with 45 (plus another 35 in its companion volume - cf. sales in these rooms 11.2.92, lot 326, and 14.12.81, lot 164). Although this set appears to be complete, it is sold not subject to return, due to uncertain collation (more details of which are available from the Book Dept.)