Help identify 18th-century copper engravings marked "Tom. IX."

Discussion in 'Books' started by Alex Mercuri, Jul 26, 2026 at 1:39 PM.

  1. Alex Mercuri

    Alex Mercuri New Member

    I have two copper engravings on laid paper (21 × 27 cm, plate mark visible) depicting Roman oil lamps. Both are marked "Tom. IX." and numbered figures 81–82 and 93–94. I cannot identify the publication because the official Le Antichità di Ercolano Esposte has only eight volumes. Does anyone recognize the source?
    The colors are better rappresented by the first image. Don't know why the scanner made the second one so white.
    file_00000000d3388246be607f2862f3082d.jpg file_000000009c948246bc9b451ca2920b05.jpg
     
    NewEngland and Any Jewelry like this.
  2. bosko69

    bosko69 Well-Known Member

    Welcome to the Forum Alex.I'm an amateur-but these could be true 18th Cent engravings. It'd probably be best to have an experienced Antiquarian specialist look at them, in person if possible. When you hold it up to the light do you see a watermark in the paper, and is it a 'laid' construction,ie:

    'book paper was predominantly laid paper during the first half of the 18th century. It was made by hand using a wooden frame fitted with closely spaced wire lines that left a ribbed texture. Wove paper without these lines was only invented around 1757.'
    • Ribbed Texture: Features fine vertical or horizontal "laid lines" crossed by wider-spaced "chain lines" from the wire mold.
    • Material Composition: Made from natural linen and cotton rags rather than modern wood pulp.
    • Watermarks: Frequently contains maker marks or symbols sewn into the wire grid of the hand mold.
     
    NewEngland and Any Jewelry like this.
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