CONTARENI, Casparis [CONTARINI, Gasparo]. [patricii Veneti] De Republica Venetorum. Libri quinque. Item synopsis reip. Venete, et alii de eadem discursus politici. Lugd. Batavorum [Leiden]: Ex Officina Elzeviriana. 1628.
447, [1] pages in Latin. Fine copper-engraved architectural title-page incorporating a vignette of the Lion of Saint Mark and a panoramic, bird's-eye view of Venice. Woodblock decorative initials. Original cream paste downs. Later ownership signature on front paste down, dated 1900, and to upper margin. Provenance: Gordon. Front title page bearing an early ink ownership signature ("Gordon") to the upper margin, and a large, prominent 17th or 18th-century circular institutional ink stamp ("Sigillum / Ex Bibliotheca...") centered over the architecture and text register, partially obscuring the lower imprint. 60 x 104 mm. Contemporary full vellum; spine with contemporary hand lettered ink title, 'Venetorum Republica'. Vellum lightly patinated and naturally toned; structurally rigid and sound with secure hinges. Light, even age-toning internally, a clean and complete text block. The scarce "Editio secunda auctior" (second, significantly enlarged Elzevir edition), following the first printing of 1626. Rahir, 260. Willems, 293. Contarini’s landmark political treatise on the Venetian constitution, originally composed in 1543, is paired here with miscellaneous state essays to form a core volume in the Elzeviers' celebrated Respublicae pocket-atlas series. These elegant miniatures were widely carried by Grand Tourists and diplomats as the premier 17th-century travel and political guides to Europe. Apart from the heavy title-page library stamp, an attractive, un-restored copy in its original state.