Giovanni Palazzi:

Gesta Pontificum Romanorum a Sancto Petro Apostolorum Principe usque ad Innocentium XI.

Venetiis, apud Ioannem Parè, 1687-90. Folio. 36.5 x 25.4 cms. [8] + 428 pp.; + [4] + 112 pp. + columns 113-760; + [4] pp. + 804 columns + [2] pp.; + [4] pp. + 666 columns; + [4] pp. + column 1-76, p. 77, columns 78-79, pp. 78-192 + [4] pp. Titles printed in red & black. Missing in the final part is the biography of the newest Pope Alexander VIII: three leaves with columns numbered 198-208 and an engraved full-page portrait. They otherwise appear at the very end, after the table of contents, and it seems likely that they are lacking in some copies as an unforeseen addition to the work, which had the suddenly deceased predecessor Innocent XI as the initiator, and whose biography was to conclude the history according to the title-pages.

With 54 full-page illustrations of tomb monuments, coins, medals and seals, inserted as plates at the beginning of the work and printed on paginated pages in the later volumes. With 242 engraved "portraits" of popes in the text.

Irregular pagination and some leaves bound in disorder, first part with a fairly large dampstain throughout, leaf 3F1 with marginal loss, fourth part with tear in title page, last part with hole in last leaf with loss of a few words, a few more occasional stains, soiling and very slight worming. Last part wanting an engraved full-page portrait and the last three leaves with columns 198-208. As often bound in four volumes, contemporary full vellum with handwritten titles on spines, the bindings with some cracks and slightly soiled. Round stamp and bookplate of Prince Alexander Erba Odescalchi (1914-2008).

The work deals with the history of the popes from the apostle Peter to Innocent XI, born Benedetto Odescalchi (1611-1689, pope from 1676). His biography covers almost the entire fifth part, and Innocent's engraved portrait appears both in his biography and in the dedication to the current pope which opens the fourth part, printed two years before his death. Literature on Innocent XI was of course abundant in Alexander Erba Odescalci's library, which makes this an interesting association copy.

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