Serlio (Sebastiano) Regole Generali di Architettura, second edition, title with woodcut architectural border, woodcut initials and numerous illustrations, many full-page, woodcut printer's device in large cartouche to verso of final leaf, some light marginal soiling and staining, P1 torn just touching edge of image, slight worming to upper outer corner, a few small stains and tiny holes to leaves of Q & R gatherings (neatly repaired), modern calf, red roan label, [EDIT 16 CNCE 28611; Fowler 314], folio (c.350 x 240mm.), Venice, Francesco Marcolini, 1540.

⁂ Book IV of this important Renaissance work on the five orders of architecture, one of eight books on architecture and perspective of which only five were published in the author's lifetime, the first being this in 1537. The present work is a reset and corrected edition of the1537 edition with illustrations taken from the original blocks. Serlio's monumental work represents the first treatise on architecture in which the illustrations assumed primary importance, leading to its becoming one of the most important architectural books to disseminate knowledge of antique heritage and invention throughout Europe during the Italian Renaissance.