Lot 299: WILDE, JACOB DE.

Gemmae Selectae Antiquae e Museo Jacobi de Wilde. Engraved additional title, title vignette, portrait of Wilde, and 50 engraved plates. [8], 177, [7] pages. 4to, contemporary vellum, spine lettered in manuscript, some soiling. Amsterdam: Jacob de Wilde, 1703 1,500-2,500$ first edition of the catalogue of wealthy Amsterdam merchant de Wilde, which preceded Winckelmann's catalogue of Stosch's gems by nearly sixty years. Such catalogues were of great importance, as collectors relied upon descriptive and illustrated guides to form gem collections, one of the few ways to acquire treasures of antiquity. These plates are devoted to major figures from mythology: Isis, Jupiter, Leda, Serapis, Pan, Mercury, etc. The figures of the gods and goddesses form the centerpieces of elaborate Baroque frames, containing images of related gems from de Wilde's collection. Brunet V, 1447; Sinkankas 7205.