[Collection of architectural and decoration prints including fortification plans, garden plans and architectural decoration].

An extraordinary collection of seventy-one 16th-century architectural prints and prints showing a wide variety of ornamental engraving intended for the use of architects and others. The present states of nearly all prints in the collection date from the period 1561 to 1585 and some plates were modified after the present printings, giving latest possible dates for their printing. In some series it is difficult to identify the watermarks, but most also point to a date around the 1580s. The prints from the four series by Vredeman de Vries (1527-1609) are especially notable not only for their artistic quality and the high quality of the engraving (mostly by Joannes and Lucas van Doetecum), but also for an extraordinary and detailed print showing about 40 musical instruments and another showing about 50 tools for gardening, farming and building (in wood, brick or stone) both in 1572. Also of special note are four prints that appear to have been separately published rather than forming part of a series, showing important monuments or events in Rome. The series from Labacco, Artichitettura, probably the 1584 edition, includes all but one of its 26 prints.Including:1) MICHELANGELO. Orthographia partis exterioris templi Divi Petri in Vaticano.[Rome], (engraved by Étienne Dupérac, [Florence, 1569?]; revised by Paolo Graziani, Rome, 1582, and) Pietro de' Nobili, 1585. Double-page. 2) BÉATRIZET, Nicolas. Pantheum Romanum nunc Mariae cognomento . notum|ad . presume.[Rome, ca. 1575/85?]. Double-page. 3) [AGOSTINO VENEZIANO?]. Arco de Costatino [recté Constantino] in Roma Ant Salamanca excudebat[Italy, copied from Antonio Salamanca, ca. 1600?]. 4) VREDEMAN DE VRIES, Jan. Quicquid est huiusmodi, in quo non possunt plures excellere, . M.T.C. off. 1[Antwerp], [widow of?] Hieronymus Cock [engraved by Joannes and/or Lucas van Doetecum], [engraved 1561/70, but perhaps printed ca. 1590/1600]. Double page. 5) VREDEMAN DE VRIES, Jan. Panoplia seu armamentarium ac ornamenta cum artium ac opificiorum .,Antwerp, Gerard de Jode (engraved by Lucas or Johannes van Doetecom), [engraved] 1572 [printed 1580s?]. 5 prints from a series of 16.6) VREDEMAN DE VRIES, Jan. Caryatidum vulgus termas vocat sive athlantidum multiformium ad quemlibet architecture, .|Veelderley dieverse termen op de V ordene der edificien tot behoef alle beelt ende steenhouwers[,] scrinwerkers[,] glasscrivers .,Antwerp, Gerard de Jode [engraved by Lucas and/or Johannes van Doetecom], [engraved ca. 1565, possibly printed ca. 1590/1600]. 3 prints from a series of 16.7) VREDEMAN DE VRIES, Jan. [Waterputten],Antwerp, Philips Galle [engraved by Lucas and/or Johannes van Doetecom], [engraved ca. 1574, perhaps printed ca. 1600]. 6 prints from a series of 24.8) VREDEMAN DE VRIES, Jan. Hortorumviridariorumque elegantes & multiplicis formae, ad architectonicae artis normam af fabre .,Antwerp, Philips Galle, 1583. 5 prints from a series of 20.9) SCHILLE, Hans van. Form und Weis zu bauwen, zimmern, machen und auff zu richten, mit Blochheusern, Graben und Wallen . Vestung Schlosser Buren und Stedt . macht und braucht | Maniere, de bien bastir, edifier, fortifier, & munir chasteaux, forterelles, villes, & autres places, pour defendre & offendre .Antwerp, Gerard de Jode [engraved by Joannes and Lucas van Doetecum], 1580. Title page plus 4 prints from a series of 14.10) COCK, Hieronymus. [Views of Roman ruins],[Antwerp], [widow of] Hieronymus Cock [engraved by Joannes and/or Lucas van Doetecum], [engraved] 1561 [printed ca. 1600?]. 4 prints from an unnumbered series of 12.11) LABACCO, Antonio. Libro . appartenente a l'architettura nel qual si figurano alcune notabili antiquita di Roma,Venice, Girolamo Porro, 1584. 25 of 26 prints.12) VIGNOLA, Giacomo Barozzi da. Regola delli cinque ordini d'architettura,Venice, Francesco Ziletti, 1582 or "1583" [= 1586?]. 11 of 37 prints.13) GROENINGEN Gerard van. Memorabilium, Novi Testamenti, . icones tredecim .,Antwerp, Gerard de Jode [engraved by Joannes & Lucas van.…