Prestigiosa Collezione di biglietti da visita del '700 '800

Extraordinary collection of business cards from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. All made with printed engravings, woodcuts on vintage paper, some with autograph inscriptions in ink of the holders represented on the ticket itself. There are names of the well-known bourgeoisie, lawyers, writers, various nobles, military officers, prelates.The album contains approximately 267 pieces, which after a visual examination would appear to beall removable from the album pages itself. Among the well-known people are Alexandre Dumas fils with inscription and autograph signature, Ferdinand Gregorovius with autograph inscription, Lady Shelley. We then find one of the first ever hand-filled business cards (of the Baron de Waldkirch chamberlain). Some other names identified:Marquis Carlo Maria Bichi Ruspoli, Marchioness Faustina Capranica del Grillo, Monsignor Azeido, Bianconi minister of Saxony, the imperial and Royal Apostolic agent and secretary De' Brunati, Prince Rospigliosi, Abbè Galiani, Antonio Grassi magician, Captain Graziani, the Archbishop of Ravenna, Prince Giovanni Gonzaga, Domenico Caracciolo, John Leigh Philips, Count Lupi, Duke Strozzi, Marchese Ginori, Lucrezia de Ricci nee Antinori, Neri della Gherardesca, Le Comte de Breunner ambassedeur de S.M. the Empereur et Roi, Marquis Borelli Poggiolini, Senator Knight Antonio Serristori, Marquis Tacoli gentleman of the chamber of H.R.H. of Parma, the Comte de Haga, Prince Camillo de Rohan Ambassador of Malta, Marquis Vivaldi, the Bishop of Acquapendente, the Marquis Cav. Giovanni Vettori, Le Ministre Plenipontentiaire de S.M. Britannique, a secret valet of his Holiness, Francesco Bernini Manfroni, and many others. The album is in excellent condition, the cards are of various sizes in the order of 3 cm. to 11 cm. per sideThe album measures approximately 24.5 x 37 cm, 19th century hard binding. Prestigious collection coming from the Mattarella family.