[AMADUZZI, G. C.]. - Lot 194

[AMADUZZI, G. C.]. Alphabetum syro-chaldaeum una cum oratione dominicali salutatione angelica et symbolo fidei. Romae, Typis Sac. Congregationis de Propag. Fide, 1797. In-12, (1)-30 pp. (including one fold-out page with table). Fine black woodcut vignette to title (of the Congregation). Printed in the oriental reading direction. Contemporary fawn half-basane, smooth spine underlined with gilt fillets, gilt title, bound with several blank azure laid endpapers (binding rubbed, a few scattered freckles). First edition. A good copy of this early Latin and Syro-Chaldean alphabet, accompanied by the Sunday oration printed in Syriac, with 1 fold-out table of the Syriac alphabet. Special typeface copy, printed in Rome just before Bonaparte's conquest of Italy, during which "the French government ordered the confiscation of the dies and punches for foreign language typefaces held by the Congregation of Propaganda, in order to place them at the disposal of the Imprimerie Nationale" (Coakley). Brunet I, 197. Only one copy in the CCFr (BnF). Printed and paginated in the Arabic reading direction, from right to left. Beautiful woodcut vignette in black on the title (of the Congregation). Handwritten bookplate on one counterplate.