A beautiful piece of "Coins of Old Poland...". Ignacy Zagorski.
The original was published in Warsaw, in 1845.
This is the second comprehensive catalog of Polish coins, published just after the publication of Steszinski-Bandtkie's "Domestic Numismatics" 5 years earlier. Covering the modern period from 1506 onward, it is much more detailed on the subject than "National Numismatics," so it is not surprising that it quickly became the primary and reference catalog for coin collectors of the time. It maintained this status in practice until the early 20th century.
The present piece is preserved in very attractive condition. The original half-leather binding, probably still 19th century, preserved well, after expertly performed, only the most necessary restoration procedures. It presents itself superbly, capturing the spirit of the era while giving the feel of having been used by several generations of numismatists, for almost two centuries after publication.
Outside binding format 270 x 218 mm. Block size 261 x 205 mm.
Both volumes co-bound in a uniform format. A major rarity is the preservation of the plates in virtually full, uncut format (plates engraved by Majnert), with impressive wide margins. Typically, the plates were bound separately and trimmed to their edges, and thus to a much smaller format than the texts.
The block is very well preserved throughout, the interior paper clean with very slight and few iron efflorescences. Sides of the block painted with a marbled pattern. Single former ink stamps on the title pages of both volumes, and an additional pencil annotation on the plates page. Other than that, interior with no other markings, annotations or notes.
A very attractive piece.