Apr 16, 2026 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
31
An important collection of lives of Venetian painters
RIDOLFI, CARLO
Le maraviglie dell'arte. Venetia: Giovanni Battista Sgava, 1648. First edition. Two volumes in one; later calf, edges gilt, 8 3/4 x 6 1/4 inches (22.25 x 16 cm.) With engraved titles and engaved portraits of the painters. Binding worn; both boards scuffed, joints cracked. Internally a bit thumbsoiled, offsetting facing portaits. Overall clean and bright.
A bright copy of the most important source on Venetian art in the 17th century. Known as the Venetian Vasari, Ridolfi traced the legacy of artistic excellence in Venice to antiquity through the influence of the Byzantines. This collection is heavily illustrated with engraved portraits of all the painters profiled within.
Sold for $640
Estimated at $1,000 - $1,500
Includes Buyer's Premium
RIDOLFI, CARLO
Le maraviglie dell'arte. Venetia: Giovanni Battista Sgava, 1648. First edition. Two volumes in one; later calf, edges gilt, 8 3/4 x 6 1/4 inches (22.25 x 16 cm.) With engraved titles and engaved portraits of the painters. Binding worn; both boards scuffed, joints cracked. Internally a bit thumbsoiled, offsetting facing portaits. Overall clean and bright.
A bright copy of the most important source on Venetian art in the 17th century. Known as the Venetian Vasari, Ridolfi traced the legacy of artistic excellence in Venice to antiquity through the influence of the Byzantines. This collection is heavily illustrated with engraved portraits of all the painters profiled within.
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, Apr 16, 2026
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Successful Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on April 16, 2026 Surpasses Expectations
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Thomas Jefferson Letter Commenting on Toussaint Louverture Achieves $32,000
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
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We Invite You to Contact Us for Complimentary Auction Estimates of Your Collection
NEW YORK, NY – Doyle's auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on April 16, 2026 saw international competition drive strong results throughout the sale and a total that surpassed expectations.
Thomas Jefferson Letter on Toussaint Louverture
Highlighting the sale was a fascinating 1802 letter from Thomas Jefferson as president to Maryland Governor John Francis Mercer that achieved a strong $32,000. The remarkable letter captures a rare, candid moment in which Jefferson assesses, with striking clarity, the arrest of Toussaint Louverture, a leader of the Haitian Revolution, by French General Charles LeClerc, Napoleon’s brother-in-law. Jefferson perceptively warned that LeClerc’s actions would erode trust and likely spark further racial conflict—an insight that proved remarkably accurate. Beyond its sharp political foresight, the letter reflects the broader anxiety the Haitian Revolution provoked in the United States, which contributed to decades of diplomatic isolation of Haiti.
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Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
