Bidspirit auction | MANUEL GONÇALVES VIDAL

MANUEL GONÇALVES VIDAL - Marcas de Contrastes e Ourives Portugueses 2 Vols em 1 - MANUEL GONÇALVES VIDAL, 1974. Published in 1974 in Lisbon, under the official imprint of the Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda (INCM). This is the monumental, highly sought-after and esteemed complete collection composed of two volumes bound in a single physical specimen (Volume I: 15th Century to 1887, with 14 + 351 + (2) pages; Volume II: 1887 to 1950, with 425 + (2) pages). This monumental publication constitutes the scientific and historical inventory par excellence, an absolute and obligatory reference for experts, art historians, goldsmiths, antique dealers and collectors, intended for the cataloguing and rigorous identification of assayer's hallmarks, place marks and hallmarks of precious metals in Portuguese goldsmithing and jewelry. The work is profusely illustrated in the text and separately with thousands of detailed typological reproductions of hallmarks. The copy features a magnificent and sumptuous period binding in dark brown sheepskin with corners, cardboard plates covered in marbled paper of great decorative effect, a five-rib spine richly ornamented in the squares with elaborate heraldic ironwork and gold-engraved floral motifs, and contrasting labels in red and black leather. The text block and the invaluable table pages are in extraordinary condition and remarkably fresh, with generous margins (270 mm). A superb piece of extreme technical utility.