A set of eight 19th century Italian marbled paper and brown and red Moroccan leather bound faux volumes containing a part set of Grand Tour plaster gems or 'intaglios' By Paoletti of Rome, circa 1840-50 Each volume with front and rear covers opening to fixed trays containing various famous oval and circular plaster classical and neo-classical portrait profiles, figures and architectural features, the inner covers with ink written inventory titles and indicia, the edges of the faux 'pages' covered in speckled paper, the spines numbered from 1 to 8 and titled in tooled gilt PAOLETTI and respectively for each volume, 1, MUSEO VATICANO, 2, MUSEO CAPITOLINO, 3, VOMINILLUSTRI VILLA ALBANI - MUSEO DIFIRENZI, 4, MUSEO DI NAPOLI - DI PARCHI OMMARIVA, 5, MUSEO SOMMARIV, 6, MUNUMENTI IN VARILUOCHI, PERE DI CANOVA, PERE DI THORVWA(LDSON), 15cm wide, 24cm high, 4cm deep (8) Footnotes: As typical 'Grand Tour' souvenirs, plaster gems or intaglios were brought home by wealthy European travellers in large quantities in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Rome was their ultimate destination, and a tour of the treasures contained in its many museums were thought to complement a young man's education. Collecting boxes and faux bindings containing plaster impressions whilst also being a valuable 'aide memoir' of the mythologies, gods and historical events depicted on the delicate cameos. The Paoletti workshop was perhaps the most prolific and famous of all the makers of these pieces. Located in the Piazza di Spagna, Rome, its prestigious clients reputedly included Catherine the Great of Russia and Ferdinand III. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing