Tielemans, Émile-Henri Lot n° 801

[HANCARVILLE, Pierre-François Hugues d'] Suite de 23 figures priapiques. S.l. [c. 1780] Copper engravings, oval ± 6 x 5 cm or tondo Ø c. 6 cm, enhanced with watercolors, cut and mounted on wove paper ff. 18th c. red morocco binding salvaged from a devotional book. In a richly decorated calfskin slipcase with rococo-style gilding, two large medallions in gold and silver bars on each board, lined with dominoté paper (skilfully restored). A fine set of 23 unsigned engravings, very finely engraved and watercolored at the time, taken from a rare work by d'Hancarville: "Monumens du culte secret des dames romaines" (ed. orig.: Rome, 1784 and reissued with generally 50 plates). Inspired rather freely by antique cameos, they depict satyrs, nymphs, scenes from the cult of Priape, etc. In fine, a curious medallion bearing the name of the famous Messalina, wife of the emperor Claudius and reputedly insatiable, with the word "invicta" interspersed with priapes and surrounding a snail, a two-sexed animal symbolizing lechery. Ref. Cohen 475. - Pia 956-959. - Dutel A-729/734. Prov. "Ex-libris eroticis Constance ...R...", gr. by E.H. Tielemans (f. volant).