Knights of Malta. PACIAUDI. Memorie de’ gran maestri del sacro militar ordine gerosolimitano.

3 volumes bound as one, 4to. 278 x 203mm. Contemporary quarter leather and marbled board binding, gilt decorations and title on the spine, sprayed decorated edges. 6 leaves, XL pages, 2 unnumbered leaves, 1 folded geographical map, 215 pages, [1], 1 plate engraved outside the text with the plan of Jerusalem (after p. 46): 5 leaves, 225 pages, [1], 1 blank sheet, one plate engraved outside the text with a topographical map (after p. 188); 4 leaves, 249 pages, [1], 1 blank sheet. Headpiece, Rohan coat of arms engraved by Cagnoni on the titlepages, copperplate headpieces and tailpieces. On the titlepages, the indication “Dalla Stamperia Reale’. In total, one folded geographical map and 2 full-page topographical maps, all copper-engraved. On the flyleaf: Ex Libris manuscript ‘P. K. Villae’ dated 1830; Heraldic Ex Libris. Sign of wear on the binding, internally occasional browning and toning, fine copy.

Rare first edition. Important text for the history of the Knights of Malta. Work dedicated by Bodoni to Fra Emanuello De Rohan Grand Master of the Order, whose family coat of arms is present on the frontispieces. Typographic masterpiece, with clear characters, and accompanied by 18 vignettes and 3 maps masterfully engraved by Domenico Cagnoni: two topographical tables, one of Jerusalem and one of San Giovanni, and a folded geographical map of the order's expeditions in the Middle East engraved based on the drawings of Giuseppe De Lama.

Brooks: “Bel libro adorno di 1 testata incisa, 7 finaletti, 10 medaglie, 1 carta geografica e 1 carta topografica”.

De Lama, pp. 16-17; Melzi I p. 181; Brooks 155, non cita la pianta di Gerusalemme nel I° tomo.