L'Arte Di Rendere I Fiumi Navigabili,

An important early work on the improvements of Rome's waterways by Cornelis Jansz Meijer (1629-1701), a Dutch hydraulic engineer. There are also depictions of other forms of transport, the homes and monuments of Rome, and observations of the solar eclipse.

In 1675 Meijer arrived in Rome and caused outrage by proposing a canal from the Tiber to the lagoon of Maccarese. He had the Pontine marshes mapped and produced works such as this copy to petition for a license to turn it into a usable waterway. A patent was finally granted in 1699 but he died two years later and his son, attempting to finish the work, got chased out by angry locals in 1707. According to folk tales a dragon lived in the swamps of Pontine and Meijer claimed to find its skeleton, which adorn the title pages of this work.

Almost all plates are signed as designed by C. Meyer. Some are also signed as engraved by him, but most carry the names of other engravers - I.B. Falda, G. van Vittel, 'BD', G. Wouters, Ber. de Balliu, Ia. Blondeau, I.B. Honoratus. The portrait of Mejjer is unsigned, as are the three title-page vignettes.

The second work is a further description of the plates of the first, with reproductions of each plate in question, and is present with the Index for both parts. Presumably the original owner felt acquiring the second part was unnecessary, as they have written in manuscript in the Index which plates part two describes, which are of course present in the first work.

Only 3 copies in UK institutions for first work [Cambridge, Wellcome, RAS] and only 1 copy of the second work [Wellcome]. Neither in BL. Our copy tallies with RAS copy.

First editions; four parts in one, folio (41 x 27.5 cm); 120 engraved plates in total, 10 of which double page, and 4 titles with large vignette engravings, with two (of three) errata slips to index of first work, text in Italian with Indices in Latin, French, and Dutch, touch of marginal spotting, small marginal repair to first title, very occasional contemporary manuscript note or pagination; Eighteenth century full vellum, gilt compartments to flat spine with gilt morocco lettering pieces rubbed, vellum restored to spine foot and lower board corners, a very good copy; [44], [16], [24]; [26] ll.