4 folio volumes (mm 385x280), bound in full marbled calf, titles in gold on brown morocco labels, six-nerved spines with gilt ramage decorations, cuts decorated with red and black stripes; double dry-stamped borders on the plates; marbled guards. Vol. 1: two frontispieces engraved by Zuliani, one of which is double-page dated 1779, richly illustrated with allegorical figures, Venice seated on a throne with the lion of St. Mark at her side and the book of the Gospel open, winged putti, armillary sphere and globe, various cartographic instruments. Pages (X), IX-X, 50, (4) text followed by (70) finely copper-engraved plates of double-page colour maps, pages (2) with list of members Vol. 2: copperplate frontispiece, index, 49 double-page maps Vol. 3: Copperplate frontispiece, index, 54 double-page maps. Vol. 4: copperplate frontispiece, index, 42 maps on 46 sheets. The atlas includes the famous 12-sheet map 'The United Colonies of North America', the first map to give the United States its name, based on Mitchell's map (1775). This and the other regional maps of North America are placed in the first volume, along with maps of the British Isles, because they were British possessions. A note on the index of the fourth volume explains that at the time of the publication of the first volume a war was being fought over these colonies: later editions of the atlas moved the maps to the fourth volume. Another particularly important map is 'New Zealand', one of the earliest published versions of Cook's map of New Zealand and certainly one of the most decorative. The maps, 215 in total covering every part of the globe, were engraved by G. Pitteri, D. Colussi, G. Zuliani, G.V. Pasquali, Ab. V. Formaleoni. An excellent copy, well imprinted, with fine contemporary colouring, of one of the most elegant and significant atlases printed in Italy in the 18th century. Parts of the atlas, especially those relating to areas affected by the political changes taking place, were also published separately, as was the case for the maps of North America. Cremonini 72; ValerioV.; Cartografi Veneti p. 215: "Venice 1722 - 1804" with ifigli is printer, chalcographer and bookseller. A Venetian publisher, he dedicated himself to the publication of maps and atlases. Chalcographic illustration (frontispieces, friezes, vignettes, portraits) plays a notable part in his production, mostly entrusted to his brother Giacomo and P.A. Novelli.'