Bonaventura van Overbeek (1660-1705) was a Dutch engraver who spent his life drawing the ruins of Ancient Rome. This fine three-volume set depicts the antiquities visible in Rome during the early-eighteenth century.

Rome was becoming an increasingly important site for travellers to Europe. The "Grand Tour" of young British men was becoming more popular during this period, testified by the publication of numerous guidebooks, such as Joseph Addison's Tour through France and Italy, published in 1705. Van Overbeek's guide to Rome, with its beautifully engraved plates, would no doubt have provided inspiration for gentlemen to visit Italy to witness the sites first-hand.

Van Overbeek dedicated his work to Queen Anne (r. 1702-1714) but died before its publication. His nephew Michael van Overbeek became responsible for its publication in Latin in 1706 and subsequent translation into French in 1709. This book is one of the three presentation copies of the 1709 edition and bears the post-Union Coat of Arms of Queen Anne on both boards.