ALCIATI (ALCIATUS), Andrea. ... Praesumptionum tractatus, Joannis Nicolai Arelatani I.V.D. studio pervigili amplißimis auctus additionibus, argumentis ac indice elementario de more exornatus, studiosorum ergô nunc primum in lucem exit.

Lyon, Jacobus Giunta 1542. 8vo. 563 pp. (2. blank); 1 p. (blank); (46) lvs. (last blank). A few small woodcut-initials. Contemporary wooden boards with a large blind-tooled pig-skin spine (rubbings, a small portion of wood lacking); without clasps. Second edition (first 1538), very rare. The Milan lawyer Andrea Alciati (1492-1550) is considered to be the founder of the humanistic branch of jurisprudence "in its philological-historical aspect" (Kleinheyer/ Schröder p. 17). Instead of concentrating on the glossators before him he moved the emphasis to a critical analysis of the text, the Corpus iuris civilis. At the same time he freed himself from the structure imposed by commentary, which explained the text as it went along, and presented it in a monograph-like style and theme orientated (Troje p. 52/53). The presumptions set out in this work present rules for making assumptions, which was an important element for assessing evidence used by the presiding judge. Alciati's attention was not just devoted to jurisprudence itself, but also included classical studies such as philology and literature; consequently he was the first compiler of the so-called Emblem Book in modern times. The emboss working on the front and back covers consists of two parallel rollwork containing four pairs of figures and candelabra pattern; this is as described under EBDB r001694. The data base on cover decoration would indicate the south German workshop w003161 which was active in the period 1482 to 1501. This, of course, does not exactly correlate to the date of publication of this volume. Thus one can assume that either the roll work was carried out by a different workshop or was added later.Front joint slightly cracked. Front end-paper with an entry of purchase from the early 18. century, title recto with library stamp and a short handwritten entry. Some underlinings, a small tear to 1 leaf (without affecting text), minor stainings. Slightly browned throughout (a few lvs. more intensively). A well preserved copy in its first binding.er. IA 102.928; Baudrier VI, 197; Gültlingen IV, Giunta 262; not in Adams, not in BL (Online-Catalogue).

Best. Nr.: 616   1800,00 EUR
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(ANONYMUS) - CICERO, M(ARCUS) T(ULLIUS).
Rhetoricorum ad Herennium libri quatuor ... De inventione libri duo.

Lyon, S. Gryphius 1546. 8vo. 256, (8) pp. Printer's device on title. Contemporary flexible vellum (darkened, soiled, small vellum defects). .Two important rhetoric works in one volume: "Rhetoricorum ad Herennium" is regarded -together with Cicero's "De inventione" -as "the oldest surviving textbook of rhetoric in Latin" (Nüsslein). The anonymous work (up to the 16th century Cicero was assumed to be the author, as Hieronymus and the manuscript tradition had generally coupled Cicero's "De inventione" with the herennic rhetoric) aims at conveying a systematic survey of rhetoric and its different schools. The numerous parallels with Cicero's book are mostly put down to a common source (possibly the same rhetoric teacher). Some water-staining, otherwise clean. NUC 109, 511(the only listed copy).

Best. Nr.: 101   690,00 EUR
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ARISTOTLE
Organon [Greek])

Venice, B. Zanetti 1536. Sm.-8vo. (282) lvs. Repeated printer's woodcut device. Contemporary vellum (browned, soiled, edges rubbed, spine renewed [18th century], title on spine. Early edition in the original Greek; very rare. During late Greco-Roman times it was usual to combine the logical writings of Aristotle ("Categoriae", "De interpretatione", the two analytic writings as well as the works concerning dialectical conclusions ["Topica"] and deception ["Sophistici elenchi"]) together under one heading "Organon" ( = "Tool"); this term was derived from Aristotle's ideas that Logic was an aid to science, but not a discipline in its own right. "...during the later period of antiquity and the middle ages ... one studied Aristotelian Logic in what had become a standard arrangement " (DNP 1, Sp. 1138). Newer free end-papers. First gatherings damp-stained or water-marked, otherwise slightly browned throughout and minor spotting. A good copy. IA 107.954 (incompl.); Hoffmann I, 277; Schweiger I, 53; PCCBI 6.5547 (2 copies, incompl.); NUC 20 / 663.

Best. Nr.: 138   2200,00 EUR
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ARISTOTLE
In hoc volumine haec continentur...De historia animalium libri IX. De partibus animalium & earum causis libri IIII. De generatione animalium libri V. Theodoro Gaza interprete. De communi animalium gressu liber I. De communi animalium motu liber I. Petro Alcyonio interprete...

Paris, Simon de Colines 1533. Folio. (36) lvs., 101 lvs., (1) leaf (blank); (10), 42; (10), 53, (3), 13 lvs. Lacking the last blank leaf. With a large rinter's device ("Tempus? device 2 [see Renouard p. 104] and numerous woodcut initials. Contemporary calf (splitting and rubbed, the edges, foot and head of spine have been repaired, upper hinge torn) with some blind-stamping and gold embossed ownership mark on both covers. Second Colines edition, and simultaneously the 2nd edition of the zoological writings of Aristotle in this compactness and completeness. Schweiger and Hoffmann record a Colines edition in 1522 (apart of those in 1524 and 1533) but that one seems to be a mistake: verifiable in 1522 is only an edition with Aristotle's ethical works by Colines. With the issue of the collected works presented here Aristotle (384 - 322 B.C..) can be considered "The founder of biology and ... first of all Zoologists". There is a wide variety of themes, as shown from the following titles: "The origination of animals", "the history [actually types] of animals", "The motion of animals.", "Anatomy ...." The fact that Aristotle left the research into botany to his friend and pupil, Theophrast, resulted in the first three works of Aristotle generally being issued together with the works of Theophrastos in the Incunabula editions and in numerous editions throughout the 16th century and only relatively later on were the zoological works of the philosopher issued together. Title recto and verso with owner's markings (the recto partly removed using sharp knife, causing small holes in the paper). Later end-papers (original vellum strips preserved). Title recto and verso with ownership entries (recto party erased causing paper defects without touching text / device). Free end-papers, margins of title, first leaves and last leaf with paper defects due to humidity; outer corner of 1 leaf teared off. Slightly browned, margins in places soiled (title more intensively). Cranz 107.938 (4 copies); Renouard (Col) S. 204 (5 more copies); Schreiber (Col) 96; Schweiger I, 58; Hoffmann I, 330; BMSTC (French Books) 25 (incompl.); NUC 20, 606 (3 copies.); neither with Adams nor with PCCBI.

Best. Nr.: 178   3400,00 EUR
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[ARISTOTLE] - NIFO, Agostino
Augustini Suessani Philosophi perspicacissimi subtilissima commentaria in libros Meteorologicorum, et in librum de Mistis, sive Quartum Meteororum ab antiquis nuncupatum et ordinatum...

Venice, H. Scotus 1559. Folio. (14) lvs. 638 cols. Numerous woodcut diagrams and printer's device. (Bound with): [ARISTOTLE] - NIFO: Parva naturalia Augustini Niphi Medices Philosophi Suessani... Venice, O. Scotus 1523. Folio. (2) lvs., 121 lvs., (1) leaf (blank). Numerous woodcut diagrams and printer's device. (Bound with): NIFO, Agostino: De intellectu. De demonibus. Venice, P. de Querengis 1503. Folio. 82 Bll. (last 2 lvs. wrongly paginated). Repeated woodcut device. 17th century flexible vellum (browned, soiled,some small vellum defects) with handwritten title on spine, small library label and 2 ties (one incomplete). I: Very rare edition (1 entry in CCBI, 4 copies recorded by de Bellis, no copy in the USA [NUC], no entry in Index Aurel., BMSTC, Adams, Schweiger and Hoffmann). Nifo's commentary has been reprinted after 1523 several times. II: Rare edition (not in Ind. Aurel., NUC, CCBI, Adams, Schweiger and Hoffmann); first edition of Nifo's commentary. III: First edition of the revised text of De intellectu (following de Bellis the first printed edition at all). First edition of De daemonibus. Rare. The four books of Aristotle's "Meteorologica" are a continuation of his "physica" and include all phenomena concerning the sub-lunar realm. The ?Parva Naturalia" summarises a number of shorter individual investigations and these are expanded in the writing ?Über die Seele" and which are concerned with individual functions of the soul and of the body. Today's editions include the writings: "On the Senses and Sensory Objects", "On Memory and Remembering", "On Sleep and Awakening", "On Dreams and Prophecy", "On Longevity and Ephemerality", "On Youth and Old-Age", "On Life and Death" as well as "On Inhalation and Exhalation". This edition has - in common with earlier editions - also been put together according to other criteria: according to the Commentary. For this reason ?Book on Causes" has been included, because it belongs to those that Thomas v. Aquina commented on; it was originally his elimination of this work, which is generally accepted today, from the corpus of Aristotle's works; ?On the Motion of Animals" was included as a result of Alvernus' commentary, and finally the essay ?On Luck" is present; ? On Dreams and Prophecy" was omitted. Agostino Nifo (1473 - 1538 or 1545) lectured at a number of Italian universities (Naples, Pisa, Salerno, Rome), the first station of his academic career being in Padua. Heer - influenced by N. Vernia and the Paduan Averroism - he published "De intellectu et daemonibus" and set forward in this writing the unification and immortality of intelligence gained from the stars. Nifo's major importance is as translator and commentator on the works of Aristotle and Averro. The first c. 30 lvs. with brown-stain to upper margin. Text 1 with slim upper margins (head-line or pagination in places touched), last leaf with tear. 3rd title and 3 lvs. of the last text stained; last gatherings slightly water-marked, in places with damp-staining to lower margins; a few lvs. browned. All in all a well preserved copy. I: De Bellis XXX, 5 (with wrong collation); Censimento 16 CNCE 32114 (2 copies); CCBI 6. 6262; Lohr/Niphus no. 13-14. II: De Bellis XX, 1; Censimento 16 CNCE 33132; BMSTC (Italian Books) 51; Lohr / Niphus no. 24 (2 copies: London, Paris). III: De Bellis III, 1 (7 copies only); Censimento 16 CNCE 36199; Lohr (Latin Aristotle Comm.) II, p. 282.

Best. Nr.: 128   5500,00 EUR

AUTORITATES ARESTOTELIS (!)
Senece. Boetij Platonis. Aculei. Africani Porphyrij et Gilberti Porritani denuo summa cum diligentia recise et correcte.

(Cologne, Quentel) 1503. 8vo. (52) lvs. (of 53: lacking 1st leaf with title, woodcut and the beginning of the preface). 19th century wrappers (spine and edges pale). Very rare. A collection of quotations of classical authors (mostly Aristotle); those collections have been printed often between 1490 and 1510 by different printing offices, our is the second one by Quentel. Provenance: Auction J. Baer (Frankfurt am Main) in 1932 since then in a privat collection. 19th century fly-leaves. Slightly browned throughout (the margins more heavily); internally a well preserved copy. Cranz/Schmitt 107.711 (2 copies only); VD 16, A 4030 (5 complete copies); Adams A 1961 (writes 54 lvs.: + 1 blank one at the end).

Best. Nr.: 183   1900,00 EUR
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("Materiale Intronato" = BARGAGLI, Girolamo)
Dialogo de' giuochi che nelle vegghie Sanesi si usano di fare...All' illustrissima, et eccellen.ma Signora Donna Isabella de' Medici Orsina Duchessa di Bracciano.

Siena, Luca Sonetti 1572. Sm.- 4to. 223 pp. Woodcut on title (coat-of-arms: Accademia degli Intronati), small woodcut on last leaf verso ("lupa senese?). 18th century half vellum (browned, rubbed)., spine label (defective). First edition. The most famous work of this Siennese legal scholar and courtier ( 1537 -1589) written as a dialogue in the tradition of Castiglione's "II Cortigiano?. The author, bemoaning the degeneration of contemporary late-night gatherings, presents a lively discussion filled with allusions to literary and worldly preoccupations tending to affirm the spiritual and intellectual equality of men and women. The text also presents aseries of intellectual games and enigmas reminiscent of the contemporary fascination tor emblems ("alla fondamentale distinzione dei giochi [di spirito, d'ingegno, di scherzo e di piacevolezza], segue illoro fitto catalogo accompagnato da una minuta descrizione". Diz biogr degli Italiani VI, 341-43). Title with marginal defects (restored, not touching text / cut) and mounted, 2nd leaf reinforced at joint. Slightly browned and finger-stained throughout, in places manuscript entries; a few lvs. with worm-track to upper margins (some letters touched). Gamba 1237; BMSTC (Italian Books) 426; Adams B 198.

Best. Nr.: 147   2400,00 EUR
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BARTOLUS de Saxoferratus (Bartolo de Sassoferrato) - Johannes ANDREAE (d'Andrea, Giovanni).
In utriusq(ue) iuris libros introductorium. Tractatus & processus diversi untriusq(ue) iuris: studiosis plurimis accomodati. Modus legendi abbreviaturas in utroq(ue) iure. Tractatus iudiciorum Bartholi legum dictoris.Tractatus renunciatonum beneficioru(m) in publicis instrumentis. Processus Sathanae infernalis & genus humanu(m). Ars notariatus. Sum(m)a Joanis andreae sup(er) secu(n)do Decretaliu(m). Arbor Co(n)sa(n)uinitatis. Affinitatis. Joanis Andreae. (Arbor) Cognatio(n)is sp(irit)ualis. Conatio(n)is legalis.

Basle, Adam Petri 1517. 8vo. (122) lvs. Three lvs. recto (at the beginning of Arbor Consanguinitatis, Arbor Affinitatis and Arbor Cognationis) with head-line only to have space for phylogenetic trees, but they are lacking). Contemp. blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards (darkened, some staining, rear board with a small restored leather defect, edges and corners slightly rubbed), two old clasps. Third edition of this "Sammelband" (after 1513 and 1514). The contents: 1. Ars notariatus. (VD16 A 3823); 2. (Bartolus from Sassoferrato): Processus Satanae infernalis contra genus humanum. (VD16 B 591); 3. Bartolus from Sassoferrato: Tractatus iudiciorum. (VD16 B 606); 4. (Bartolus from Sassoferrato): Tractatus renuntiationum beneficiorum in publicis instrumentis. (VD16 B 616); 5. Johannes Andreae: Summa super quarto decretalium. (VD16 J 348); 6. Johannes Andreae: Summa super secundo decretalium (VD16 J 357); 7. Modus legendi abbreviaturas in utroque iure. (VD16 M 5756) ; 8. Johannes Andreae: Arbor consanguinitatis (VD16 J 320), Arbor Affinitatis (VD16 J 320); 9. (Johannes Andreae), Arbor Cognationis spiritualis (no separate edition in VD16), Arbor Cognationis legalis (no separate edition in VD16). "Nemo bonus iurista nisi bartolista" (No-one is a good lawyer who does not follow in the tradition of Bartolo). This saying graphically indicates the enormously high reputation that Bartolo de Sassoferrato (Saxoferratus) (1313/14-1357) enjoyed. As the most important representative of the post-glossator school his works cover a tremendously wide range: they deal with themes of civil and criminal justice; with trade and commerce; and civil law and criminal law; he was one of the first to consider the topic of international law. One of his most important achievements was the attempt to unify the disparate statutes of the Italian cities using Roman justice as the base (in which he helped with the ultimate breakthrough). His attempt to match the dogmatic legal judgments to the conditions prevailing at that time also found widespread acclaim; he interpreted the church's prohibition on charging interest by taking into account the contemporary commercial conditions in such a way that he could judge the legal implications of interest dealings such as interest for falling into arrears for justifiable (see Kleinheyer/ Schröder p. 43 ff.). Johannes Andreae (circa 1270 - 1348), too, was one of the most influential lawyers of the middle ages. "He belonged to the younger decretals, who concerned themselves with papal judicial decrees, and who put their stamp on the period of classical canonistic." (BBKL III, 257). Title with stamp of previous owner ("Franziskaner Hospitz Hundsdorf" and manuscript additions to preliminaries and final leaf verso. Some browning throughout with light water edging in some places and towards the back small worm hole with white edge. Upper edge cut slightly tighter. A good example in original condition. VD 16 I 167; neither in Ind. Aur. nor in BMSTC (German Books), in one of the three edition without any specification ("c. 1512").

Best. Nr.: 620   2400,00 EUR
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(BAVARIAN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS)
Gerichtzordnung Im fürstn-thumb Obern- und Nidern Bayen Anno 1520 aufgericht.

Munich, A. Schobser (c. 1550). Folio. (16), 87 lvs. The woodcut title illustration shows both Duke Wilhelm and Duke Ludwig standing in a hall holding the arms of Bavaria. The illustration is by Caspar Clofigl and was first used by Hans Schobser in the "Reformacion der bayrischen Landrecht" 1518 (the earlier three editions of "Gerichtzordnung" included another Clofigl woodcut on the title page; see Muther Plates 262 and 263). After the unification of Upper and Lower Bavaria in 1505 the creation of common judicial conditions became an urgent task. In this connection the Gerichtzordnung codified, amongst many other matters, the laws governing trials and presented "one of the earliest and most important monuments of the adoption of Roman-canonical legal forms into German justice" (Handb. d. bayer. Geschichte II, p. 656); in addition, it is "the oldest book of common law governing Upper and Lower Bavaria" (ebda.). Provenence: Auction J. Baer, Frankfurt, on 7. 11. 1932; continuously until October 2005 in private hands. Title in red/black. Inside front cover flyleaf with engraved Ex-libris. Some browning throughout (title more so), minimal staining in some sections; a few leaves display water marks at the bottom outside corners. Title cropped close on the side (leading to one letter on recto to be trimmed), otherwise a well-preserved copy with wide margins.Title with woodcut illustration. New boards. Fourth issue. VD 16, B 992; not in Adams.

Best. Nr.: 194   1200,00 EUR
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BEDA (VENERABILIS)
Homiliae ... hyemales et quadragesimales de tempore ac de sanctis, nunc primum summa diligentia restitutae & in luce aeditae.

(Cologne) J. Gymnich 1534. 8vo. (16) pp. (2nd blank), 351 pp., (1) p. (blank). Woodcut device and initials. (BOUND WITH:) BEDA (VENERABILIS) Homiliae aestivales de tempore & de sanctis. Cologne, J. Gymnich 1534. 8vo. 403 pp. (2nd blank), (9) pp. (last blank), (2) lvs. (blank). Woodcut title border and device (penultimate leaf verso). (BOUND WITH:) BEDA (VENERABILIS): Homiliae ... in D. Pauli epistolas & alias veteris & novi testamenti lectiones tam de tempore quam de sanctis, ut per totum annum in templis leguntur, nunc primum excusae. Cologne, J. Gymnich 1535. 8vo. (24) pp., pp. 3 - 317, (1) p. (blank). Woodcut printer's device. Contemp. blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards (a number of worm holes, 1 corner defective), 2 spine labels and two original clasps. Three scarce first editions in 1 volume. The title border of the second text is a work by Anton Woensam of Worms (Merlo no. 411). Bede or Beda Venerabilis (the venerable, 672/3 - 735) was one of the most important theologians of the early middle ages. His theological works, to which the present series of sermons belongs, were marked by their high authority. He was influential through his presentation of the history of the anglo-saxon church and as a result of a work on chronology; it was this work which helped to establish the term AD (Anno Domini). The front cover of the binding is divided into five panels. Top and bottom, two horizontal panels from right to left. Between these are three vertical panels of roughly the same size. In this central part: interspersed with rosettes are a woman with winged helmet, a woman with bonnet and a vase between. The floral, intertwined pattern of the left and right panel strips are repeated in the top and botton panels. Each panel has a ruled double-line frame. The rear cover is similarly decorated but the roll work of the woman with helmet is lacking here. Assignation of the binding is not possible: the EBDB does have a similar roll work under "Meister des Sixt Birck" from Augsburg, but it is not identical. Lacking fly leaves. Fore-edge title. To old entries to title, one of them dated "1538". Throughout with worm holes (loss of letters) light browning. I: IA 115.626; VD 16, B 1430; neither in Adams nor in BL (Online-Cat.). II: IA 115.625; VD 16, B 1431; neither in Adams nor in BL (Online-Cat.). III: IA 115.631; VD 16, B 1434; Adams B 458; not in BL (Online-Cat.).

Best. Nr.: 627   2700,00 EUR
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BELLI, Silvio.
Libro del misurar con la vista...Nel quale s'insegna, senza travagliar con numeri, a misurar facilißimamente le distantie, l'altezze, e le profondita con il Quadrato Geometrico, e con altri stromenti, de' quali in ogni luogo quasi in un subito si puo provedere. Si mostra ancora una bellissima via di ritrovare la profondita di qual si voglia mare; & un modo industrioso di misurar il circuito di tutta la terra.

Venice, Nicolini 1565. Sm.-4to. (4) lvs., 108 pp. Numerous woodcut diagrams. 18th century boards. First edition. An early Italian handbook to Geometry and Surveying. Slightly browned and finger-stained, otherwise good. Smith 343; Adams B 518.

Best. Nr.: 140   4100,00 EUR
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(BIBLIA HEBRAICA) (Hebrew Bible - Old Testament).
(Paris, Robert Estienne 1544 - 1546). 17 parts in 17 vols.

16mo. I (Quinque libri legis): 146 lvs. (a - r8,, s10); II (Exodus): 124 lvs. (t-z8, aa-kk8, ll4 [last blank]; III: (Leviticus): 88 lvs. (mm - yy8); IV (Numeri): 122 lvs. (zz8, A-N8, O10); V (Deuteronomium): 108 lvs. (P-Z8, AA-DD8, EE4 [last blank]); VI (Iosue & Iudices): 152 lvs. (A-T8 [T7 and T8 blank]) ; VII (Samuel) : 176 lvs. (a-y8) ; VIII (Reges) : 184 lvs. (A-Z8) ; IX (Prophetia Isaiae) : 132 lvs. (A-Q8, R4 [last blank]) ; X : (Prophetia Ieremiae) : 168 lvs. (a-x8) ; XI (Prophetia Ezechielis): 144 lvs. (aa - ss8); XII (Duodecim Prophetae): 120 lvs. (A-P8 [P6- P8 blank]); XIII (Psalterium): 160 lvs. (A-V8 [last blank]); XIV (Proverbia Salomonis & Iob.): 114 lvs. (AA-NN8, OO10); XV (Canticum canticorum, Ruth, Lamentationes Ieremiae, Ecclesiastes, & Ester): 80 lvs. (A-K8); XVI (Daniel & Esdras): 120 lvs. (a-p8); XVII (Liber Paralipomenon): 184 lvs. (A-Z8 [last blank]). Complete with all blank leaves. Estienne's olive tree device (Renouard 298) on the title-page of each part. Full titles are in Hebrew characters, followed by brief Latin titles in roman letter. The Hebrew titles of the individual books are set in type within cartouche headpieces at the beginning of the text. Printed throughout in Hebrew type. 16 vols.: Bound in early 18th century polished marbled calf (or sheep?) over boards (some vols. with restorations at head and foot of spine, particularly vol. 8; very slightly rubbed) with blind filet borders, spine on 4 raised bands, gilt edges. Vol. X: recently bound with old material in the style of the other ones (that volume from an other set, differently cut and with new end-papers). Second Estienne Hebrew Old Testament ("pocket edition?). This edition is very rare and seldom found complete with the original Psalter (in most sets lacking or replaced by a later edition); it is very difficult as well to find this set bound in 17 volumes (usually it has been bound in 8 or 9 vols.). Ruth Mortimer: "In his Hebrew Old Testament in quarto, printed from 1539 to 1544 (Andover-Harvard), Estienne employed a large square type for the text and a font of the more cursive Rashi type for the notes. Interspersed in the notes, for text quotations, is a small square type. The large text type is known to have been cut by Jean Arnoul, called le Picard, and the other two fonts might be attributed to the same hand (see Armstrong,Estienne, p. 51-52, but note that she refers to two fonts only, one cited as text type for the 16° edition). The Rashi type was used on the title-pages of the 16° edition. The square text type in this edition is a new font, only slightly larger than the small type of the quarto. Part of this new font appears in the text of Estienne's 1544 Alphabetu(m) hebraicum (HCL), although the full alphabet is printed in the quarto text font. Concerning the 16° edition, Renouard (Estienne, p. 65, no.1) writes : «Cette petite édition que l'on dit fort exacte, est vraiment un bijou typographique, et peut-être ce qui a jamais été imprimé de plus beau en langue hébraique.« Ruled throughout. Old ownership inscriptions (Jesuits at Louvain); library stamps of Douai Jesuits on titles and last leaves, Douai bookplate in vol. 15. Minor soiling, single wormholes and or minor worm-track in blank margins of some parts. Two words ("Robertus Stephanus?) in the subtitle of vol. 1, 6, 9, 11 - 16 erased (with a small paper defect / loss of paper) or partly deleted. Steinschneider 115; Renouard 65, 1; Mortimer 73 (2 incompl. sets); Adams B 1224; BMSTC (French Books) 56 (3 sets: only 1 complete); Brunet ("Jolie édition?) I, 856. Girard/Boutailler (Paris) 50 (5 sets, all evidently incompl. and with the psalter in 2nd issue). Not in Fairfax - Murray. 

Best. Nr.: 602    28000,00 EUR

 

BOCCACCIO, Giovanni.
Le Philocope de Messire Iehan Boccacce Florentin, Contenat l'histoire de Fleury & Blanchefleur, divise en sept livres traduictz d'italien en francoys par Adrian Sevin Gentilhomme de la maison de Monsieur de Gié.

(Paris, D. Janot for) Gilles Corrozet, (February, 24th) 1542. Folio. VI, CLXXIIII leaves. With - repetitions included -36 text woodcuts (one nearly full-page) all surrounded by a varying border (partly decorated with coats of arms), some "lettres fleuries" initials by G. Tory (cf. Mortimer ) and few "Crible " initials. Woodcut printer's device. A magnificent, signed heraldic binding by the famous Paris bookbinder Gruel from the last quarter of the 19th century in an excellent state of preservation, with polychromatic Moroccan ribbon marquetry, abundant gilding of spine, cover, bottom and inside edges as well as gold-embossed spine title; three-side gilt-edging. In a later shift (broad spine of brown, napped leather with gold-embossed spine title [thumbed, somewhat faded], cover done in marbled paper, suede-lined [the lining slightly stained] and in a half-leather slipcase with identical cover (slightly thumbed, edges somewhat flattened). First edition of Sevin's translation. Denys Janot organized this edition under his own name and for various Paris bookshops (cf. the corresponding entry in the Ind. Aurel. ), whose own signets and sales notes were then imprinted. Thus our specimen bears the Corrozet-signet on the title page (v. Renouard 206) and the note : "On les vend à Paris en la grand Salle du Pa1ais du costé de 1a chapelle de messieurs, en 1a boutique de Gilles Corrozet Libraire." This signet makes the book - which is extremely rare anyhow - a top rarity , not accounted for in the relevant bibliographies / catalogues. The woodcuts derive from Janot's edition of the first books of "Amadis de Gaula? of 1540 (cf. Brun and Mortimer), but partly they were made earlier (thus one border is dated "1520?). The borders frequently bear foliage ornaments, and a whole series of them shows grotesque faces and heraldic shields. Brun writes about the "Amadis? woodcuts as a whole: «L'Amadis des Gaules dont le premier livre parut en 1540, est orné de vignettes qui offrent au lecteur une suite de charmant petits tableaux. Certaines sont d'un dessin si parfait et d'une taille si adroite qu'on ne peut s'empêcher de songer aux gravures de Lützelburger d'après Holbein. Ici, le style, les proportions des personnages, les physionomies, tout enfin est différent et accuse la main d'un artiste français, mais la mâitrise est presque égale » (p.68), and generally on Janot's and Corrozet's importance (p.64 / 65) : « Ce fut le role de trois imprimeurs, Denis Janot, Etienne Groulleau et Gilles Corrozet, de répandre a profusion, sous un format commode, de petits textes classiques ou des livrets abondamment illustrés. Leurs vignettes élégantes et spirituelles, transmises ou copiées d'atelier en atelier, interprétées par les ciseleurs, les peintres verriers, les émailleurs et les fayenciers, contribuèrent pour une grande part a fixer les nouvelles formules décoratives...». The "Filocolo? is Boccaccio's first prose work, started in 1340 in Naples at "Fiametta's? instigation. Its central motif are the perilous journeys and trave1s of Florio, son of the pagan Spanish King Felice in Verona, throughout the Mediterranean region, searching for his first love Biancifiore. Boccaccio thus created the very first prose novel of Italian literature; his material takes Floire et B1ancheflor as a model, a novel that had been written in France in the middle of the 12th century and was read all over Europe. Another model were the novels of Chrétien de Troyes, who inspired Boccaccio to the second main motif of his novel: the psychology of the main characters. "In this respect Chrétien was for the self-taught Boccaccio - after some first psychological beginnings in Ovid -the most important example of psychological prose at that time. Boccaccio seems to have been the first to take up Chrétien's methods consciously, always striving to create a distance to the trite prose narrations of the popular ?Volgarizzamenti' by endowing his characters with refinement and subtlety. Not least owing to these ana1ytical efforts of the young author, his early novel includes the motifs of the "quest? in the novel of character development: Florio's long and taxing odyssey in his search for his mistress also has the aspect of an education for life through life, so that at long last he is able - in the novel's happy final scene that meets the beginning in a full circle - to succeed his father, King Felice, to the throne as an educated prince, matured in character and humanity and even converted to Christianity" (Hardt p. 151/Transl.). The lavishly equipped Moroccan leather binding bears in the middle of both covers the coat of arms of Henri IV (1553 -1610) in an oval cartouche with the French heraldic shield (on a blue background) and that of Navarre (on red) together with three crowns: the two small ones representing France and Navarre, and the big one symbolizing the union (v. J. Guigard, Nouvelle Armorial du Bibliophile. Paris 1890. p. 20). The heraldic shields and the small crowns are enclosed by delicate foliage. Crown as well as tendrils are gold-embossed, the colours of the escutcheons are subtly repeated in the big crown. The coats of arms are surrounded by a network of partly geometrical, partly floral and ornamental polychromatic ribbons (in beige, brown, ruby and red) in Grolier-style, ending at top and bottom in a bigger grotesque, and below four corner vignettes in a smaller one each (in beige the bigger, in brown the smaller ones). The fields between the stripes are gold-embossed with "Crible? dots. The cover decor is predominantly worked in leather marquetry .This binding in mock-historical style follows the tradition of "reliure adaptée au texte?, a speciality of the Gruel studio (cf. R. Devauchelle, La reliure en France de ses origines a nos jours. Paris 1961. Vol. II, pp.34ff.).The above term would have to be extended with the top products from this workshop to "reliure adaptée au texte et aux illustrations", as in these cases the bookbinder extended his historical approach to elements of the artistic illustration of the book: Thus in our example the "Crible? - initials correlate with the corresponding cover decor, Henri's IV coats-of-arms correspond with the (fancy) heraldry of the woodcut borders, and this correlation continues right through to details of motif in the Bourbon fleur-de-lis or the crowns. The covers show floral corner vignettes unfolding in a fan shape, and these also reappear in the lines of several borders; the same applies to the grotesques and the floral elements. Thus the book with its illustrations and the cover binding form an integral artistic unity. The binding The binding has a 16th century model: The marvellous dedication binding of the French Bible for King Henri IV, made in 1588 by an anonymous binder at Geneva (see Hobson, G.D.: Une reliure aux armes d'Henri III. A la Bibliothèque National. In: Les Trésors des Bibliothéques de France. Tome III. Paris 1930. p. 247- 259; particularely p.. 149 ff. with plate II. Schunke,I.: Der Genfer Bucheinband des XVI. Jahrhunderts und der Meister der französischen Königsbände. In: Jahrbuch der Einbandkunst IV (1937), p. 37 - 64; particularely p. 51 ff. [with image of the dedication binding for Henri IV]). Ex-libris. A carefully cleaned copy; title still with old and very faded entries. Throughout evenly somewhat browned, in places with faint mildew or brown spots. Some woodcuts slightly paler in imprint. Few sheets with surface irregularities in the bottom outer corner, due to the process of paper-making. Altogether a very clean specimen of this rarity. IA 120.290 (only 7 copies!); NUC 62/473 (3 more copies); Mortimer (French Books) 105; Brunet I, 1014 und Suppl. I, 142; Cioranescu 20705; BMSTC (French Books) 71; Omont (Janot) 125; Brun S. 158 (if there is mentioned a printer it is only Janot).

Best. Nr.: 607   34000,00 EUR

BOETHIUS, Anicius M.S.
...de philosophico consulatu sive de consolatio(n)e philosophi(a)e: cu(m) figur(is) ornatissimis novit(er) expolit(us).

Strasbourg, Johann Grüninger 1501. Fol. (10), 126 (mis-numbered: recte 128) lvs. With 78 woodcut (four of them half-page-size), initials and device. Late 16th century blind-stmaped pigskin over wooden boards (rubbed, browned, worm-holes, edges with leather defects [restored], spine with restored leather defect too. Spine has been opened to remove two more texts); lacking clasps. Rare edition, edited by S. Brant. Blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards from the late 16th / early 17th century with blind-stamped rules to leading edges and roll work (rubbed [rear cover somewhat stronger], browning and, especially to edges, presenting wormholes, stained. signs of restoration to edges of cover leather, spine has small tears [restored] and more worm damage, rear cover has small amount of restoration to leather; removal of material previously bound in has led to spine being reduced and very professionally restored and closed again; three (only partly legible) manuscript spine titles (which points to the work being originally a collection of three separate works); without the clasps. Rare edition, published by S. Brant. The arrangement of the text is characteristic of earlier printed works of the Grüninger press: The literary text part in an attractive and large Antiqua with wide line spacing with a very small type for the interlinear glossaries, the commentaries (pseudo-Th.-v.-Aquin) framing this text in a medium-sized type. The woodcuts mark a milestone in Grüninger book illustration. They originated from an anonymous school in Alsace and were specially commissioned for this work. Their quality lies partly in the strength of expression presented by figures and scenes, and partly that they are exactly matched to the text - this was not always the case, neither by Grüninger up to this point and also not by a long line of other printers subsequently; Kristeller has catalogued these under Group B Grüninger Illustrations (p. 42). Three of the five books open with a half page title woodcut, which is then followed by between 12 and 24 smaller text woodcuts in landscape format per book, which frequently consist of three, sometimes of four, parts brought together; in book four the half page woodcut is printed at the end. The majority of the illustrations are in excellent print quality. Boethius (c. 480 - c. 524) was born in Rome and came from one of the most important Roman families. In 510 he became Consul and, under Theoderich, was promoted to the highest of state offices. Accused of conspiracy with Eastern Rome, he was imprisoned in Pavia and later executed. While in prison he wrote the work Consolatio Philosophiae or "Vom Trost der Philosophie" (c. 523). "The Consolation is one of the finest works of the classics ever to be put down on parchment. It comes from a man who ... was as confident with the classical Greek as with the classical Latin and who can be considered the last of the classicists due his use of a very pure , impressive use of language combining elegance and precision ... as a result of his excellent definition of terminology he is also considered the first scholastic " (KNLL 2,860f.). The arrangement - analysis of the "illness" using philosophy, initial application of gentle remedies in the form of simple easy to remember phrases, then more sophisticated philosophical proofs and on to complicated and abstract theorems on ethics and philosophical theology (the stronger remedies), whereby the discourse itself also increases in complexity, firstly considering general wisdom from Greek and Roman philosophy, but then increasingly giving way to make place for independent discussion - reveal that the work meant more to the author than mere personal avowal. "Augustinus and Boethius complete the integration of Greek philosophy and raise Latin to an instrument of science. In this way they forged the spiritual weapons of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance." (M.v.Albrecht, Geschichte der römische Literatur, p. 1367). An interesting detail: the second book contains one of the oldest pieces of evidence for an illustration of the wheel of fortune. The embossing on both covers is applied in the same way: The front cover is decorated with a double ornamental band adjacent more rollwork; this is followed by a Christ-Rolle with "Lamm Gottes", the initials "IHR" in round wreath of rays and flowersand within this is a small rectangle with which the band ornamentation is repeated. Above and below the rolwork of Christ a horizontal field has been left vacant (for supralibros letters and date). The decoration on the reverse board is largely the same (although the two free rectangles are not here, so the central field and the Christ decoration are larger; the outer roll with the band ornamentation is simply pressed on, on both of the longer sides). Provenence: Hand-written entry and library stamp of the cartause Buxheim. Slightly browned throughout (a few leaves more intensively), in places dam-staining to margins, some worm-holes (minimal loss of letters or illutration) ). A few initials coloured, some underlinings in ink. Slim upper margins (a few letters of head-lines touched). Title with entry "Contenta?. Front end-paper and fly-leaf newer, rear fly-leaf pasted to the end-paper).A fine copy of this searched book. IA 121.016; VD 16, B 6404 (1 copy); Muller (Grüninger) 8 (2 copies); Schmidt (Grüninger) 57; Ritter 225; Adams B 2283; BMSTC (German Books) 135; Schweiger II, 31; Kristeller *96 (but with wrong title and wrong number of woodcuts); Muther 555 (with details of the woodcuts).

Best. Nr.: 162   11500,00 EUR

CICERO, Marcus Tullius
Opera quae aedita sunt hactenus omnia, in tomos distincta quatuor, ad diversorum & vetustissimorum codicum collationem ingeni cura recognita ... quorum tomus primus rhetorica, oratoria et forensia (- secundus tomus orationes - tertius tomus opera epistolica - quartus tomus opera philosophica) continet... Ad haec, Rerum & verborum Index omnium locuplentissimus & castigatissimus, cim Annotationibus variarum lectionum.

Basle, Herwagen 1534. Four parts in two volumes. Folio (364 x 240 mm). (8) pp. (2nd blank), 318 pp., (1) leaf (blank); (8) pp. (2nd blank), 595 pp., (1) p. (blank); (12) pp., 418 pp., (1) leaf (blank); (20) pp., 403 pp., (1) p. (blank), (60) lvs. 9 woodcut devices (3 different ones)and many woodcut initials. Two uniform bindings: Contemp. blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards (intensively rubbed, edges, corners, head and tail of spines restored, some soiling) from the workshop of the Wittenberg binder Franz Lind(e)ner with a roll dated "1536?; 4 original clasps, 2 later spine labels. Following Schweiger it is the fifth edition of Cicero's complete works. Thus complete very rare. The contents: Part I: Rhetoric works and a vita after Livius; part II: Speeches; part III: letters; part IV: philosophical works, an extensive version of Cicero's vita, annotations and the index. The cover decoration shows a rectangular central panel which is filled with two sets of floral roll work set to be mirror images to each other. These are surrounded by a roll of figures ("Justici[a], Lucrecia, Pruden[tia], [Suavitas]" = Haebler Nr. 2) dated to 1536. Adjacent to this is a narrow frame (a double border horizontally) with rosettes with this, in turn, being surrounded by roll work with more figures (Salvator ["Data est mihi ois"] - David ["De fructu ven"] - Jesaias ["Sup Solium Dav"] - Johannes ["Ecce Agn Die"] = Haebler Nr. 4, EBDB r002402); the roll work is signed by the binder (F L) and by the engraver (MA); the binding therefore originated from the Wittenberg bookbinder Franz Lind(e)ner. Around this there are two borders with plant motifs: horizontally the same decoration as in the central panel; vertically the pattern is more stylistic and with rosettes. Literature to these illustrations can be found in Haebler I, S. 260/261; EBDB w004031 (the descriptions refer to Haebler 3 and 4, the other illustrations being so poor in quality that identification is impossible). Both volumes each have two small Exlibris of the same previous owners on the front flyleaf. Endpapers of Vol. 1 recto and verso have manuscript notes and the rear endpaper is lacking; Vol. 2 lacks endpapers and the rear flyleaf on inside cover with early handwritten notes. Both vols. reinforced at joints with vellum leaves. Vol.I: 17th century ownership entry (partially erased) to title recto, first c. 40 lvs. with marginalia; slightly browned throughout (6 lvs. more intensively). Vol. II: Several short entries to title, c. 35 lvs. with marginalia in Greek. Slightly browned throughout (some lvs. more intensively), last 2 lvs. with ink stain. Both vols. well margined and well preserved; in the original status. IA 137.908; VD 16, C 2815; Schweiger II, p. 103; Ebert 4254; thus not in Adams; no complete copy in BL (Online-Cat.).

Best. Nr.: 634    7800,00 EUR

CLAVIUS, Christophorus
Gnomonices libri octo, in quibus Non solum horologiorum solarus, sed aliarum quoque rerum, quae ex gnomonis umbra cognosci possunt, descriptiones Geometrice demonstrantur.

Rome, F. Zanetti 1581. Folio. (16), 654, (2) pp. Full-page woodcut on title, printer's device and numerous diagrams. 18th century vellum (some browning and staining, front board with a small label [handwritten "7"]), title and library mark on spine. First edition. Christopher Clavius (1537/38 - 1612) was born in Bamberg although the actual form of his German name is still unknown (although Clau and Schlüssel have been suggested) entering the Jesuit order early in life and studied in Coimbra (Portugal) and at the Collegium Romanum in Rome before becoming Professor for Mathematics at the latter institute in 1564. His edition of Euclid led him to being given the respectful title of "the Euclid of the 16th century", but his works on astronomy are every bit as important. He was able to substantiate Galileo's researches in connection with the ideas of a heliocentric system, and which he also proceeded to teach (he died before the eventual damnation of these teachings by the church and the Jesuit order). He was also involved to a great degree in the construction of the Gregorian calendar (for details on Clavius see, for example, the online edition of BBKL). The central aspect of gnomonics is the design and construction of sundials. In connection with this Clavius looks at the astronomic backgrounds, the varying construction methods as well as regional differences in the length of an hour (such as the Babylonian and the Italian hour - c.f.. Kat. Bamberg 2.5). Title with some damage to edges and largely reinforced, some wormholes (the illustration affected), last leaf mounted. Ownership marks of a Capuchin monastic order on the reverse of title. Slight browning throughout (some pages appreciable) and somewhat stained (also here some pages more strongly affected). On the whole, a well-preserved copy of this rare work. (Note the BBKL incorrectly dates the first edition.) Title with maginal paper defects and mounted, a few worm-holes (illustrations touched), last leaf mounted. Ownership inscription to title recto. Slightly browned throughout, somewhat stained (some lvs. more intensively. A well preserved copy of this rare book. Adams C 2098; BMSTC (Italian Books) 186; Censim.16: CNCE 12671; Houzeau/L 11383 ("C'est la plus grand ouvrage existent sur la gnomonique") ; Cat. Bamberg 2.5.

Best. Nr.: 623   5200,00 EUR

(Pseudo-) DIONYSIUS (Dionysios) AREOPAGITA.
(Greek title, then:) Haec sunt in hoc li- bro sancti Dionysii. De coelesti hierarchia. Cap. xy. De divinis nominibus. Cap. xiii. De pontificali dignitate. Cap. yii. De mystica theologia. Cap. y. Epistolae. x. Martyrium sancti Dionysii.

(Florence), Philipp Giunta 1516. 8vo. (192) lvs. (2 blanks). Printer's device in last leaf verso. 18th century half leather (heavily rubbed, leather defects), remains of gilt - stamped spne label. First edition of the complete works in Greek. Very rare. Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. Under the name of the Dionysios - mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles having converted to Christianity after hearing a sermon given by St. Paul in Athens - in c. 500 AD an unidentified publisher - probably from Syria - issued four neuplatonic mystical works which developed a system of Christian mystical ideas. These writings soon achieved the highest acclaim in the Greek and oriental churches, even though doubts as to their authenticity were frequently voiced. A byzantine emissary presented the works of Dionysius the Areopagite as a gift to the Emperor Michael Balbus Ludwig in 827. Johannes Scotus Erigena was given the task of translating these into Latin. Dionysius' writings were extremely influential for theology during the middle ages. Dionysius became, after Augustine (of Hippo), the most important scholastic authority. Albertus Magnus, Denis the Carthusian, Hugh of St. Victor and other scholastics wrote commentaries to the works of Dionysius the Areopagite. The Jesuit Balthasar Corderius (Cordier) proved to what extent Thomas von Aquino valued the writings of Dionysius by explicitly referring to him by name. The mystics, too, used his writings as a source; Meister Eckehart (Eckhart von Hochheim) counted Dionysius as one of his main teachers. Lorenzo Valla (1407-57), one of Italy's most influential humanists was the first person in the west who was doubtful that Dionysius of Athens was not actually the writer of the areopagitic texts (see F.W. Bautz in BBKL I, Sp. 1320-1322). Ownership inscription zu front paste-down. Long manuscript text on front fly-leaf verso (referring to author and book in English); ownership inscription to title recto dated "New York 1865". Another owner's name on lower margin of title; inscriptions to front fly-leaf in part inked out. Slightly browned throughout, margins stained, last leaf verso as well. Censimento 16, CNCE 55230 (mit nur zwei gesicherten Exx. in Italien; versehentlich Latein als Sprache angegeben); IA 153.965; Camerini/Decia/Delfiol 87; Hoffmann I, 576; Adams D 519; BMSTC (Italian Books) 217; nicht bei Legrand.

Best. Nr.: 618   5500,00 EUR

DIONYSIOS Periegetes - POMPONIUS MELA - (Pseudo-)AETHICUS - SOLINUS.
Dionysii Alex(andrini) et Pomp(onii) Melae Situs orbis descriptio. Aethetici Cosmographia. C.I. Solini Polyistor. I Dionysii poematium Commentarii Eustathii : Interpretatio eiusdem poematii ad verbum, ab Henr. Stephano scripta...In Melam Annotationes Ioannis Oliuarii...

(Geneva), Henricus Stephanus 1577. 4to. (4) lvs., 158 pp., (8) lvs.; (4) lvs., 47 pp., (1) p. (blank); 152 pp. Printer's device. Contemporary flexible vellum (browned, soiled, tear to spine) with spine label. In 1547 a Dionysius-Edition appeared in Paris under Robert Estienne, which in this edition was considerably expanded by his son; thus in the combination with Mela and Solinus first edition (the Eustathius-Text first appeared in the R. Estienne edition of 1547, the cosmography of Aethicus, a pseudonym, is more commonly found together with the Dionysius work). Dionysios Periegetes came from Alexandria and wrote his Orbis descriptio at the time of Hadrian. This geographical work in verse form was widely read up until the 19th century, The high regard that it was held in in the Middle Ages is seen, for example, through the extensive commentary provided by Eustathius. In the middle of the first century after Christ, Pomponius Mela wrote what is the oldest extant Roman geographical work; this was intensively adopted during the early renaissance (Boccaccio, Petrarca). The Cosmography, issued under the name of Aethicus is probably the work of a writer of the 8th century, and who was close to the court historiographers of the early Carolingian period. Solinus (3. A.D.) compiled a collection of peculiarities very similar to that of Plinius. Free end-paper with hand-written entries. Slightly browned throughout, the outer margins minor stained. Provenance: Lassberg library; Court Library Donaueschingen. Renouard/Est. 145, 5; Hoffmann I, 592; Schweiger I, 101; Adams D 648; IA 154.294.

Best. Nr.: 605   3420,00 EUR
zzgl. Versandkosten (Inland: 7,00 / EU 17,00 / sonstiges Europa 30,00 / Welt 35,00)

EMILIO, Paulo ( = Aemilius, Paulus).
Historia delle cose di Francia, raccolte fedelmente...

Venice, M. Tramezzino 1549. Gr.-8vo. (28), 354, (2) lvs. With 2 different printer's devices (on title and last leaf verso). Contemporary vellum (soiled). First edition of the Italian translation of this French history from the beginning up to Charles VIII (i.e. up to the end of the 15th century). Ex-libris. Throughout browned, with light water-marks or finger-stains (particularly the margins), in places marginal paper defects (not affecting text. IA 100.829; Censim. 16 CNCE 18075; BMSTC (Italian Books) 7.

Best. Nr.: 174   1200,00 EUR
zzgl. Versandkosten (Inland: 7,00 / EU 17,00 / sonstiges Europa 30,00 / Welt 35,00)

EPIGRAMMATUM GRAECORUM libri VII
(= Anthologia Graeca). Annotationibus Joannis Brodaei Toronensis illustrati. Quibus additus est in calce operis rerum acuocum explicatarum Index diligentissimi conscriptus.

Basle, (Hieronymus) Froben (and Nicolaus Episcopus) 1549. Folio. (4) lvs., 627 pp., (1) p. (blank), (10) lvs. Two woodcut devices. Contemp. blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards (slightly browned, soiled, rubbed, one corner with leather defect), hand-written title to spine, 1 clasp (of 2). Rare, first complete edition of the Greek epigrams in German-speaking region, published by S. Gelenius, with commentary by Jean Brodeau. This collection of Greek epigrams, the "Anthologia Graeca", was compiled in the 9th century in Constantinople by Konstantinos Kephalas, clergy to the court; he was able to refer to a number of earlier compilations. Approximately 100 years later the collection was revised and considerably expanded, and in 1299 the monk Maximos Planudes, also in Constantinople, tightened up the contents. In this later form the collection was printed in the 15th/16th centuries. The expanded edition of 980 was not discovered until 1600 when it was found in a manuscript in the Palatina; the later editions are based on this version. The text presented here contains the epigrams in the original Greek and Brodeau's comments in Latin. The binding is well-preserved and free of any restoration work and the emboss working on the front and back book covers, although similar, is not identical. The front cover consists of a narrow rectangular field with floral individual stamps followed by a roll consisting of the crucifixion (text below: SALUS NOSTRA) - sacrifice of Isaac (ABRAHAM Cr) - resurrection (SA JUSTIFICA) - iron snake (AENEAS SERPE). There is a narrow rectangle following this with floral individual stamp work, to the outside this borders on a double palm frieze. The rear cover carries this frieze singly in the vertical but doubled horizontally, the roll with the crucifixion etc. follows this centrally as on the front, which is framed above and below from a narrow border with the floral individual stamps. Towards the centre there is a roll consisting of 4 heads in oval medallions alternately looking left and right with leafwork in a vase and heads of angels; these then frame the central section which consists of a rectangular field with floral decoration. Kyriss ascribes both roll working (crucifixion scene etc. and the heads) to the Stuttgart bookbinder Konrad Kühne (Nos. 17 and 5), but adds that Kühne "as the only Stuttgart binder of the time ... who never used the palm decoration" - which does not apply in this case. Haebler has both rolls as the work of the engraver "NP" and writes that the former was "in the hands of a Stuttgart bookbinder" (I, 344, 19 and 26), the latter also belonged to the arsenal of K. Kühnes (I, 244,5). Ilse Schunke, in her essay on the engraver NP, only considered those plates and roll work with a monogram, hence this example is not included. According to her Wolf Conrad Schwickart of Tübingen was one of the main clients of the work of "NP"(p. 140); Haebler lists him as Wolf Conradus under "W.C." (I, 84), Schunke does not mention Kühne under the Stuttgart patrons of "NP". The EBDB to a large extent follows I. Schunke and refers to her allocation r001513. The roll of heads in this present binding is not listed under Schwickart (w002973), and whether or not the palm frieze is identical to the one illustrated in EBDB is difficult to establish due to the quality of illustration. A further workshop which used the crucifixion roll working etc. is that of Friedrich Ziegler in Augsburg (w004037). The EBDB list also includes the head roll seen here (EBDB r003446), floral individual stamping (s033057), the palm frieze (r004393, as doubly illustrated). Haebler estimates his period of activity as from 1553 and refers to a connection with Stuttgart - in his earlier years of activity he bound 4 books of winery invoices for die chamber of commerce in Stuttgart. On the basis of the date of printing our volume could have been bound at this time and thus belong to this earlier- possibly Stuttgart - period (the short two year period of activity given in EBDB may need to be revised). Schunke has Ziegler as one of the patrons of the "NP"-Master. Literature: I. On Konrad Kuehne, Stuttgart: I.1:Haebler,K.: Rollen - und Plattenstempel... Bd. I, p. 244. I.2.Haebler, K.: Stuttgarter Buchbinder im XVI. Jahrhundert. In: Jahrbuch der Einbandkunst 1 (1927), pp. 80 - 86, particularly p 81 ff.). I.3: Kyriss, E.: Stuttgarter Buchbinder der Renaissance-Zeit 1540-1630. In: Zentralblatt für Bibliothekswesen Jg. 27 (1953), pp. 173 - 191; particularly p. 180 ff.). Not in EBDB. II. On Wolf Conrad Schickart, Tübingen: II.1: Haebler, K.: Rollen- und Plattenstempel ... Bd. 1, p. 84 (under "W.C."). II.2: Schmidt, A.: Zur Geschichte deutscher Buchbinder im 16. Jahrhundert. In: Schunke, I. (Hg.), Beiträge zum Rollen- und Platteneinband im 16. Jahrhundert. Leipzig 1937. pp. 1-109; particularly pp. 102 - 106.II.3: EBDB: w002973. III. On Friedrich Ziegler, Augsburg: III.1 Haebler, K.: Platten- und Rollenstempel ... Vol. I, p. 510 ff. III.2 Kyriss, E.: Beiträge zu Augsburger Buchbindern. In: Schunke, I. (ed.), Beiträge zum Rollen- und Platteneinband im 16. Jahrhundert. K. Haebler zum 80 Geburtstag ... gewidmet. Leipzig 1937. pp. 134 - 164, particularly p. 159 ff. (= Sammlung Bibliothekswissenschaftlicher Arbeiten 46. Heft). III.3 - EBDB w004037. IV. On the engraver "NP": IV.1 Haebler,K.: Rollen- und Plattenstempel ... Bd. I, pp. 337 ff. IV.2 Schunke, I.: Studien zum Bilderschmuck der deutschen Renaissace-Einbände. Wiesbaden 1959, pp. 88 ff. Ownership inscription ("Gotter, Leipzig") and - by the same hand - a praise on Brodeau's commentaries to front fly leaf. Slightly browned throughout, a few leaves more intensively due to paper quality. First lvs. with worm-track to the upper margin. Very well preserved copy. IA 125.229; VD16 E 1639; Adams E 245 and A 1184; Hoffmann I, 168 ("Searched and estimated for the commentaries"); Schweiger I, 30; Hieronymus Griech. Geist 302; BMSTC (German Books) 367; Ebert 684.

Best. Nr.: 634   2700,00 EUR
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EUKLID
Die Sechs Erste Bücher...Vom anfang oder drund der Geometrj. In welchen der rechte grund niet allain der Geometrj (versteh alles kunstlichen / gwisen / vnd vortailigen gebrauchs des Zirckels / Linials oder Richtscheittes vnd anderer werckzeüge / so zu allerlaj abmessen dienstlich) sonder auch der fürnemsten stuck vnd vortail der Rechenkhunst fürgeschriben vnd dargethan ist. Auß Griechischer sprach in die Teütsch gebracht / aigentlich erklärt / Auch mit verstendlichen Exempeln gründlichen Figuren / und allerlaj den nutz für augen stellenden Anhängen gezieret / Dermassen vormals in Teütscher sprach nie gesehen worden...Durch Wilhelm Holzmann genant Xylander von Augsburg.

Basle, J. Kündig for Oporinus 1562. Sm.-folio. (8) lvs. (of 12: lacking 4 lvs. Errata as mostly; 1st blank); 185 pp., (1) p. (blank). With numerous woddcut diagrams. (Bound after:) HERLIN, Christian: Analyseis geometricae sex librirum...Primi et quinti factae a Christiano Herlino: Reliquae una cum commentariis, & Scholiis perbrevibus in eodem sex libros Geometricos: à Cunrado Dasypodio...(Strasbourg), J. Rihel 1566. Sm.-folio. (4), XCVIII, (2) lvs. (last blank). With numerous woodcut diagrams. Modern sheep-skin (slightly rubbed, small tears to head and foot of spine). I: First complete German edition of the 6 planimetric books of the "elements". II: First editon of the analytical supplement by Dasypodius. I: In 1532 an introduction to geometry based on the works of Euclid appeared in German by Wolfgang Schmid (1539 reprinted), and subsequently Otmar in Augsburg in 1555 published the first German partial translation of books 7-9 of the "Elemente" as a supplement. This is followed by the complete edition of the books 1-6 present, simultaneously published in Augsburg and Basle. II: From 1564 Conrad Rauchfuss (Dasypodius) in Strasbourg published a Greek-Latin parallel edition of Euclid, which carried on from the Zamberti-Faber-editions. These were intended for use in mathematics lessons for the senior classes at the protestant grammar school founded by J. Sturm of Strasburg, which in 1567 became an Academy with the right to award doctor's degrees and which became a University in the 17th century (see Steck p. 70); a short address to the reader (Title verso) by Johannes Sturm(ius) is included. Bookplate. Bookblock broken. New free endpapers (front loose, rear soiled), rear original free endpaper preseved and bound in (water-marked). I: First quire printed in red and black. Slightly browned throughout, last leaf water-marked, some old marginalia. Minor spotting. II: Titel browned and loose, marginal paper defects. Slightly browned throughout, in places finger-stained (particularly first leaves and last blank) some old marginalia and underlinings. I: Thomas-Stanford 36; Steck III, 63; Riccardi (Euclid) 419; Smith 11; Hieronymus/GG 186; VD16, E 4169; Adams E 1017; BMSTC (German Books) 288. II: Thomas-Stanford 16; Steck III, 74; Riccardi (Euclid) 421; Rott (Sturm) 96; VD16, E 4150; Ritter 1142; Muller 513; Adams E 1015; BMSTC (German Books) 288 (wrongly dated "1564?). 

Best. Nr.: 137   6900,00 EUR

FULGENTIUS von RUSPE.
Opera...in vetustißimo codice conscripta, nuper apud Germanos inventa ... nunc denuo impressa. Item opera Maxentii Johannis, pulcra vetustatis monumenta, in eodem codice reperta.

Cologne, Alopecius for Hittorp 1526. Two works in 1 vol. 8vo. 4 lvs., (1) p., 414 pp., (1) p. (blank); 3 lvs., 148 pp. With 2 woodcut borders by Anton Woensam. Very well preserved and richly blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards (slightly rubbed, spine overpainted with grey oil-based paint), 2 clasps. Second edition. The texts of the two ecclesiastical authors of the 5th/6th century are based on Pirckheimer's manuscript finds in Trithemius' unpublished works and they were edited by Pirckheimer and J.Cochläus: In the first edition of 1520 as in the second one in question Pirckheimer signs as editor of the Fulgentius works, Cochläus as editor of Maxentius' books. Above all Fulgentius (467-probably 532 AD) belongs to the important theologians of the 5th/6th century; he was descended from Carthaginian nobility and from 507 onwards bishop in Ruspe / Tunesia ("one of the most eminent authors of the Latin church around 525? [Pauly 8, 214]).His writings against Arian and Pelagian opponents of Augustine were so efficient, that Petrus Lombardus, in his commentary of maxims, quotes Fulgentius' main work "De fide Petrum" under Augustine's name. Fulgentius' books first showed their effectiveness above all in Spain (Isidor of Sevi1le mentions him in "De viris i1lustribus" ), but later also in Italy and Middle Europe. Whenever questions about predestination flared up, the writings of the North African bishop became the centre of discussion ( e.g. with Hinkmar of Reims, with the Jansenists etc.). The fine and well preserved binding bears on the front cover a plate with the Electorate of Saxony coat of arms, surrounded by a roll-stamp of heads, warriors and emperors (with helmet or laurel wreath), separated from each other by a vase and foliage. The rear cover shows the same roll, this time surrounding a plate with the Brandenburg coat of arms. Both plates are initialled "GG". Haebler (1,142/3) attributes these initials to a bookbinder's workshop active at about 1560-1580, Rabenau (No.32) places them in the environment of Krause and in the Brandenburg region. Rabenau displayed and described the roll-stamp and mentioned the Brandenburg plate, Haebler mentioned the Saxony Electorate plate. 1 joint somewhat broken, 1st title with some soiling and on lower margin with a small loss of paper (restored, not affecting text / woodcut), the last lvs. slightly water-marked, a very light browning throughout, otherwise well preserved. VD 16, F 3356; BMSTC (German Books) 327; Adams F 1137.

Best. Nr.: 636   1480,00 EUR
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GELLI, Giovanbatista
La sporta. Comedia.

Florence, Giunta 1566. Sm.- 8vo. 86 pp., (1) leaf (blank). Printer's device on title. 18th century leather (very slightly rubbed, spine faded). Very rare reprint of the 1550-Giunta-edition (ed. princeps: 1543). "Ghiridoro di Macci, demolendo un vecchio casolare, trova una sporta piena di danari. Nel timore che gli venga sottratta, egli cambia continuamente nascondiglio al suo piccolo tesoro. Innamorato, anzi amante della figlia del vecchio e un giovane di belle speranze e di poca moneta, Alamanno Cavicciuoli, nipote di Lapo, ricco ed anziano signore. Proprio Lapo concepisce il desiderio di sposare la giovane, che è in procinto di partorire un figlio all'amante. Ghirigoro accorda, naturalmente, la figlia al vecchio, e in un nuovo accesso di paura cambia ancora posto alla vecchia sporta. Ma questa volta viene sorpreso e Franzino gli porta via il danaro per la gioia sua e del suo padrone. Mentre la ragazza da alla luce un bel maschietto e Lapo rinuncia a lei e alla idea di prender moglie, la sporta ritorna nelle mani del suo ritrovatore per essere immediatamente assegnata come dote alla bella figliola, che diventa la legittima consorte di Alamanno...? (Mango p. 122). Slim upper margins. Title and last leaf with some foxing, otherwise slighly browned throughout but clean. Decio/Delfiol/Cam. 379; Pettas p. 245; Russo 273; Corrigan p. 44; Clubb 454; Gamba 497; not in Adams, BMSTC (Italian Books).

Best. Nr.: 168  680,00 EUR  
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(LAW BOOKS- Schenck, Jacob - Stella, Petrus - Zasius, Ulrich)
Gerichts Ordenung und Proceß ietztläuffiger übungen Mit Rechtmässiger deren Gründ und klarer anzeygt in Keyserlichen unnd Geystlichen Rechten.

Strasbourg, Christian Egenolff 1530. Sm.-4to. (4) lvs., XLIII lvs., (1) leaf. (blank). Woodcut illustration on title. First edition, rare. (BOUND WITH:) SCHENCK, Jacob: Gerichts Ordenung wie man formlich in recht Handeln und prozedirn soll vast schön und kurz Neuwlich in geschriefft gestellt und verfast. Aus gemeynem Keyserlichem Rechten geschrieben und gegründet Eynem yeden Leyen vast nützlich...Ettlingen, Valentin Kobian 1530. Sm.-4to. (24) lvs. (last blank). First edition, rare. (BOUND WITH:) Die LEHENRECHT verteutscht: auch inn eyn newe und richtige ordnung der titel gesatzt und zusamen bracht. Mit erklerung und außlegung etlicher Lateinischer und Welscher wort welch nit füglich inns teutsch haben verändert mögen werden. Mainz, Johannes Schöffer 1530. Sm.-4to. (10) lvs., 125 pp., (3) pp. (2 blanks). Schoeffer's woodcut device. First edition at Mainz; rare. (BOUND WITH:) STELLA, Petrus - ZASIUS, Ulrich: Contenta in hoc libello. Petri Stellae ... interpretatio. l. repetitio. ff. de condict. indebi. Censura Udalrici Zasii ... contra eiusdem Stellae interpretationem dictae. l. repetitio. Apologia Stellae ad eundem Zasium, qua sententiam suam, interpretationemq(ue); tuetur adversus Zasii censuram vel commentum. Explicatio.l. nec quiq § ubi decretum. ff. de officio procon. & lega.&aliquot aliorum locorum in tandem sententiam. Tem interpretatio. l. Papinianus.ff.de publici. in rem actio. &.l.fundi§item si amicus.ff.de acquiren.possess. Paris, Christian Wechel 1528. Sm.-4to. (52) lvs. (2 blanks). Printer's device (woodcut); first edition; rare. (BOUND WITH:) ZASIUS, Ulrich: ... Defensio Novissima, contra Petrum Stellam ... iure & retione plus q nocesse erat, confirmata... Freiburg, Johannes Faber 1530. Sm.- 4to. (8) lvs. Printer's device (woodcut). First edition, rare. Still in the same year there appeared the second edition by Wechel / Paris ( for the order of printing see Moreau/Ren. III, 2322). Contemp. Blind-stamped half leather (rubbed, stained, leather defects at head and foot of spine restored), handwritten title to spine, remains of 2 clasps. This anthology contains three rare texts on common law and feudal law. In this way the publishing house of Schöffer was able to offer a translation of the feudal law section of the Sachsenspiegels - and in the two later works was able to document one of the most discussed matters of dispute of contemporary Europe by way of a first publication. This controversy between Ulrich Zasius and Stella (Pierre Taisant de L'Etoille), who was teaching in Orleans at the time, concerned a question stretching back to late classical times as to whether something can be claimed back in the situation where a creditor has received his or her debt but not from the actual debtor. Zasius pleaded that in this case the mistaken settler of the debt should be able to claim the return of the sum from the receiver but not from the initial debtor - an example of how much the practicality of legal doctrine was a matter close to his heart. Well-known lawyers of the period were involved in this dispute such as Buddaeus and Alciati (details in Fleischer, Freiburg 1966). For centuries, the interpretation according to Zasius was the guiding principle in German law and only since 1961 has the BGH (German law book) deviated from this line (see Kleinheyer/Schröder p. 457). Well-preserved binding decorated on front and back covers with three vertical strips side-by-side with rolled leaf decoration (the central strip is different to the two outer bands), at the top and bottom of these is a single rectangle each decorated with a leaf stamp decoration . Provenence: from the collection of Nestle-John (one of the most important collections of the late 19th century); auctioned by J. Baer, Frankfurt, on 6th October 1931; since then in private hands. Lacks flyleafs. Front endpaper bears annotation re purchase in Speyer: " Emptus Spyrae Anno (15)30"; title with ownership inscription ("Heinrich Mahler"). Slightly browned throughout, lower outer corner water-stained, in places with brown-staines (1 leaf with loss of letters). I: VD 16, G 1490; Benzing (Egenolff) 32 (quotes our copy); Benzing (Strasbourg) 695 (with 3 more copies); Muller (Strasbourg), Chr. Egenolff 40; BMSTC (German Books) 343; not in Adams. KVK 5 copies. II: VD 16, S 2580; not in Adams. KVK: 5 copies. III: VD 16; D 727; Roth (J. Schöffer) 134; nor in Adams neither in BMSTC (German Books). KVK: 2 more copies. IV: Moreau / Ren. III, 1541 (with 2 copies only.); Fleischer p. (3); nor in Adams neither in BL. KVK: 3 copies. V: VD 16, Z 138; Fleischer p. (5); nor in Adams neither in BMSTC (German Books). KVK 5 copies.

Best. Nr.: 193   7400,00 EUR

GRATIAN (GRATIANUS).
Decretum aureum ... cum suo apparatu...

Paris, Tilman Kerver and J. Petit; Lyon, J. Schabeler 1510. 4to. 582 lvs (the last one wrongly "CCCCLXXXII" numbered), (45) lvs. Kerver's woodcut device, 3 illustrations (Gratian and the Fathers of the Church, family trees). Blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards (rubbed, darkened, soiled, small leather defects to corners and edges, front board with some black-stamping), black-stamped title "decretum", remains of clasps. A rare edition of the first part of Corpus iuris canonici published by J. Chappuis, with the commentary by Bartolomeo de Brescia and Guido de Baysio. Post-1508 second edition by Kerver / Petit / Schabeler and frequently reissued subsequently. Following the text of the Decretals comes a 2-page "Canones penitentiales" and 1 leaf with the Life of Gratian, neither signed (numbered?) but both clearly part of this edition as evidenced on the title page. Biographically nothing reliable has been handed down about Gratian (end 11th century - c. 1150); only that the Decretum was, with relative certainty, written in Bologna where Gratian must therefore have spent some years of his life. "The Decretum of Gratian is the most important collection concerning canonical law of the middle ages and counts as one of the pioneering works of jurisprudence in the field of European canon law" (Kleinheyer/Schröder p. 165; see also for the following details). It should be seen as a source book on contemporary canon law with the aim of solving the contradictions present in the legal tradition in such a way that would result in a harmonised presentation of canon law. Already in the 12th century the work was considerably expanded, Gratian's contribution is limited to the two preliminary parts (without the section De penitentia) today. It is generally assumed that the Decretum was being used during Gratian's lifetime in the papal chancellery, and it quickly established itself into directly enforceable canon law; Popes Gregory IX and Gregory XIII took it in this function in their official corpus editions and it wasn't replaced until the Codex iuris canonici of 1918; in the protestant church the Decretum Gatiani has never been rescinded as a source of canon law. This well-preserved binding is the work of the so-called "Blumenstock-Meister? (Kyriss) or "Blumentopf-Meister?(v. Rabenau in Schwenke-Schunke II) (see EBDB w000110), whose workshop was located in Heidelberg. In S-S II (S. 114) one finds further information: "The Flower Pot Master is one of the two secular accountants who were sworn in at the University 1525, and belongs to the post-incunabula period." Further evidence of this is the fact that all dated printed works in the Palatina which were bound by him are later than 1500. Kyriss (vol. 1, p. 117), however, also lists a number of incunabula which this master craftsman bound (whereby the print date does not necessarily say anything about the date of binding), but the binding database gives the date of activity as "circa 1476 to 1528". Literature on the Flowering Plant Master: Kyriss no. 142; S-S II, p. 114; Schunke (Palatina) p. 11 + ill. II; Spandel-Krafft (Würzburg) p. 86. The database of bindings includes the workshop of the Flowering Plant Master and Kyriss 147 (figures with flowers and rollwork II) puts them in a group together and although suggesting K 147 could have been produced in Strasburg, names Heidelberg as the location for this group of workshops (or workshop group). (More on the possibility of Strasburg as home of K 147 can be found by M. Laird in: Bulletin du bibliophile 1998, no. 1, p. 7-14. He considers a possibility that K 142 and K 147 belong together). Front cover: Surrounding the whole is a largely empty border although the title "decretum" has been embossed into the top horizontal field. This is followed by a roll of foliage (Acanthus decoration as EBDB r000448= Kyriss no. 4 = S-S Laubstab 244), and an empty framework decoration of bevelled lines; a central field presents a diamond pattern made up of stamps of type EDBD s009147 (= Kyriss Nr. 6 not in S-S unless mentioned) and filled with an intricate floral decoration (stamp EBDB s009157 or. s009192 = Kyriss no. 1). This latter is horizontal and repeated in the horizontal section of the central empty section. In the central sections (central decoration and the surrounding frame inside and out) all the intersecting points have been decorated with extra rosette stamps (intersection of all line work surrounding, outer rosettes slightly larger, and at the four points of the central floral decoration where they touch the frame). Rosettes have also been added to either side of the title (EBDB s009160 = Kyriss no. 7 and EBDB s009158 = Kyriss no. 5). The rosettes, the two horizontal floral bands and the title emboss work have all been heightened using a silver-gold pigment (c.f. Schunke / Palatina p. 11) which, over time and due to oxidation, has discoloured to black. Where the three raised bands begin there are rhombic stamps - the flowering plant (EBDB s009144 = Kyriss no. 3 = S-S, Blattwerk 673) - thereby "following the characteristic Heidelberg usage" (Schunke / Palatina p. 11); the use of the silver-gold highlighting indicates upper Rhine influences (Schunke / Palatina p. 11). Back cover: The surrounding plain border is followed by the acanthus roll work which now surrounds a larger central panel. This has double and triple diagonal rolled line work which divides the panel into diamond shaped segments; in the four large fields remaining there is larger rosette stamp work (EBDB s009159 = Kyriss no.2); the points of intersection of these rolled lines also carry a small rosette and the raised bands are marked with the same decoration as on the front. Spine: separated into four sections by the three raised bands; in the upper and lower fields there is the rosette stamp again, while the leaf work stamp horizontal with a small rosette have been applied to the two other panels. Provenence: in private hands since the beginning of the 20th century. Front endpapers and first gathering newly bound. Both endpaper and first flyleaf recto with copious manuscript additions in both contemporary and later handwriting. Title recto similarly with numerous entries in the white margins and below there are two entries of previous ownership. There is a five line entry at bottom which has been crossed out (not recent).Old hand-written marginalia; slightly browned throughout, some staining to margins; 1 leaf intensively brown-stained. In places small paper defects without loss of text, last leaf with loss of text (c. 4 x 2 cm; restored). Without rear fly-leaf. Moreau / Ren. I, 1510:65; not in Adams.

Best. Nr.: 635   4500,00 EUR
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HERODIANUS
(Greek:)Historion biblia e. Marci filio ad Maximum usque et Albinum Imperatores, historiarum lib. VIII.

Basle, Waldner (c. 1535). 16mo. (1) l., 441 pp. Contemporary blind-stamped calf over wooden boards (rubbed, spine defective), 2 clasps. 4th Greek edition, 1st in Basel. Herodianus (b. around 180 AD) possibly originated from the Syrian Antiochia. His history comprises the era from 180AD (death of Marc Aurel) to 238 AD (autocracy of Gordian III). He is above all important because of his influence on the Roman historians of the 4th century AD (Aurelius Victor, Ammianus Marce1linus, Eutropius ) and also on the "Historia Augusta". The binding shows on both covers the portrait of a Saxon prince: on the front the Elector Johann with the subtext Principis hec vvltvs/ /imitatvr imago Joan(nis) (= This picture imitates the features of Prince Johannes) and on the rear cover Johann Ernst of Saxony, whose name appears in the subtext; the text itself is no longer completely legible, due to wear. The front plate is depicted and described in v. Rabenau, Bucheinbände der Renaissance, Nr.12 [here dated 1530], the second one is mentioned by Haebler (1,266) with J .Linck under No.X, with a different subtext. Linck was a court bookbinder in Anhalt and Saxony, according to Haebler his stamp material is documented between 1526 and 1547. In spite of the wear, traces of the original gilding have been preserved on both plates. Front type area with partly severed bookplate and hand-written registration notes, among others repeatedly the location number of the Lassberg Library. Throughout water-marked, first lvs. moulded. A few old marginalia. All over all a small but very attractive copy with an important provenance: Lassberg Library and Court Library Donaueschingen. VD 16, H 2495; Hoffmann II, 222; Schweiger I, 136; Hieron/ Griech. Geist 254; Adams H 380; BMSTC (German Books) 399.

Best. Nr.: 148   1150,00 EUR
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ISOKRATES.
(Greek:) Pros demonikon parainesis. Tou autos Nikoklea ... basileiao. Tou autou Nikokles e summachikos. Aristidoi romes egkomion.

Venice, Ravano heirs 1549. 8vo. (47) lvs. (of 48: lacking the last blank). Contemporary boards (browned, stained). It contains four speeches of Isocrates: "To Demonikos" (this is generally regarded to be a fake) with a relatively loose col1ection of admonitory epigrams, "To Nikokles", the young Cypriot prince who may have been a student of Isocrates, "Nikokles" - in this speech the ruler addresses his people himself - and the "Eu1ogy of the Roman Aristidos". Isocrates (436-338 BC) initiates the epoch in which rhetoric had a decidedly formative influence on Greek cu1ture. His school in Athens had an enormously wide impact, although he himself never made his speeches in public. They were read out publicly or meant to be read as written texts. Isocrates' scepticism against philosophy and above all against any claim to truth made him appreciate the talent for formulation and for effective expression: "Speaking wel1" and "thinking wel1" are interactive and indispensable requirements for any sensible activity. First and last lvs. with brown stains. Title with thin place. NUC 272,618 (the only copies we found listed in catalogues of public libraries): an extremely rare edition.

Best. Nr.: 106   820,00 EUR
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JUSTINIAN (JUSTINIANUS)
Justinianischer Instituten warhaffte dolmetschung darinn der großmechtigst Kayser IUSTINIAN den ersten grond geschribner recht hat fürgebildet: durch Orth. Fuchsperger von Ditmoning. Jetztwiderumb fleissig durchsehen uberlesen und gebessert ...

Augsburg, Weissenhorn (1538). Folio. (8), XCI, (9), XIII lvs. (1) leaf. Title woodcut and two (repeated) page-sized family trees (both slightly trimmed top and bottom) of Jörg Breu. New card covers. Third printing of this translation. Rare. The family tree is being watered by a woman while a man is turning over the soil. Provenance: Auction J.Baer, Frankfurt, 7.11.1931, since then in a privat collection. New fly leaves. Title with restored loss of paper (not affecting text / illustration). Slightly browned throughout, stainigs to margins. VD 16, C 5240; neither in Adams, nor in Schweiger, nor in BL.

Best. Nr.: 184   2350,00 EUR
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JUSTINUS (- FLORUS - RUFIUS)
Historia ex Trogo Pompeio quattuor & triginta epithomatis collecta. Lucii Flori Epithomata quattuor praecultissima in decem Titi Livii decadas. Sexti Rufi consularis viri ad Valentianum Augustum de Historia Romana opus dignissimum.

(Paris), (J. Marchant for) J. Petit (c. 1509). 8vo. (18), 140 lvs., (2) lvs. Two woodcut devices (Petit [Haebler IV] and Marchant) and three full-page illustrations (1 repeated). 18th century half calf (rubbed, prticularely corners); remains of a label, 2 gilt-stamped spine labels. Pompeius Trogus wrote his main work, "Historiarum Philippicarum libri XLIV", during the reign of Tiberius. The first six books dealt with the Assyrians, Mede, Persians, Scythians and Greeks. Books 7-40 present the Macedonian monarchy and the kingdoms of the Diadochi up until the time they were assimilated by the Roman Empire. In the 41st book Trogus turns to the history of the Parthians and follows them as far as the return of the standard to Augustus in the year 20. A review of the age of the Roman kings breaks off with Tarquinius Priscus. Gaul and Spain follow this section and it ends with the victory of Augustus against the Spanish. The Macedonian Empire makes up the central part, the Roman Empire the concuding point to Trogus' work; all local developments lead to Rome. This particular structure is particularly evident in the Prologues. All that is handed down from Trogus is that which has been given to us through the Epitome of Justinus and a number of references. P. Aennius Florus originally came from Africa. From 86 A.D. and in the 90s he took part in but failed to win several poetry competitions under the Emperor Domitian. Around the year 100 he moved to Tarraco where he took employment as a teacher of literature; it is speculated he spent some time in Rome on account of his friendly contacts to Hadrian. The "Epitome" extols the size of Rome by comparing the Roman period of history with the life of man. Written for an educated upper class this was a popular schoolbook from Renaissance times up until the nineteenth century. Festus Rufius (4th century after Christ) had a successful political career under Valens becoming Administrator of Syria and, in 372, Proconsul of Asia. His "Breviarium" on Roman history begins with a short overview of the various epochs up until the time of annexation of the western provinces; a detailed account of the wars in Asia follows this, which simultaneously comprises the main section of the book. Eutropius and Florus are his most important sources. Provenance: Auction J. Baer, Frankfurt, 7. Nov. 1932, then in a privat collection. Slightly browned throughout but clean. A few old marginalia. Moreau / Ren. I, 1509: 125; Adams A 717.

Best. Nr.: 197   2150,00 EUR
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LUDOLPHUS Cathusiensis (de SAXONIA).
In Psalterium expositio. In qua subiectae reperiuntur materiae...

Lyon, J. Moylin 1518. 4to. (30), 205 lvs., (2) lvs. Woodcut title border. Contemp. Blind-stamped calf over wooden boards (rubbed, a few small leather defects to spine, head and foot of spine defective, front joint crashed), n), 8 metal bosses to edges and corners; lacking clasps. Front cover has the addition of a later owner's embossed monogram and date. This commentary on the Psalms is, with the description of Christ's life, the second work of Ludolphus which was reprinted time and again since the incunabula period, although this work was reprinted less often than the first. The very well preserved binding has the same decoration on both front and back: the outer design is a roll of the Virtues which is dated "1539" (Casta Lucr[etia] - Pruden[tia] - [Suavitas] 1539 - Justicia); a narrow border decorated with two different floral stamps followed by a central panel in which is separated by rolled lines into four vertical rolls: the virtues reappear centrally in twoo bands and theseare supplemented in the two outer bands by two rollwork bands showing different figure. The front cover has a second empty horizontal panel in which the date and ownership monogram (BVCIW) appear. The roll work is not illustrated in Haebler, the roll with virtues matches in size and consistency with the allegorical figures of another decoration, that Haebler dates to 1539 (II, 13, No. 5). Our example, however, deviates from that as the inscription under Lucretia has the addition of the adjective "casta" (= keusch/shy) which we have been unable to locate in any of the literature even though it would certainly fit the historical/mythological figure of Lucretia. It is extremely rare that allegorical figures receive such supplementary detail in this kind of inscription. This special feature was covered in Issue 18 (April 2006) of the magazine "Einbandforschung". Provenance: Auction J. Baer, Frankfurt, 7. Nov. 1932, then in a privat collection. Lacking fly leaves, last leaf mounted. Slightly browned throughout, minor spotting. Title printed red and black, restored tear to title (border affected but no loss). Old ownership inscription to title verso together with some more letters. Red edge coloring affecting the first 2 leaves. Adams L 1674.

Best. Nr.: 198   4500,00 EUR
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LUTHER, Martin.
Von der Beycht ob die der Babst macht habe zu gepieten.

Wittenberg, (Melchior Lotter d. J. 1521). 4to. (34) leaves. (Sign. a 1 - h 6 ). Woodcut title border by Lucas Cranach the Elder (perhaps and workshop) (see Koeppelin / Falk Nr. 212) showing the Wittenberg coat-of arms, Lotter's device and a young boy riding a fabulous creature (see Johannes Luther Tafel 11). Modern half vellum. (AND:) LUTHER, Martin: Der hundert und achtzehend psalm nutzlich zu betten fur das wort gottis tzur hebenn widder den grossen feynd des selben den Babst und menschen lere vorteutschet... (Wittenberg, Melchior Lotter 1521). 4to. (12) lvs. (Sign. i 1 - l 4 ). Modern half vellum. Both printed works belong together although, in this case, they were bound separately. First printing of the second edition. This piece is directed against the church's practice of confession, and especially against the privilege of the priests to impart absolution; it came about as a reply to a tract by Oekolampadius on the same subject. The inclusion of Psalm 118 as the second part of this small work arises from the fact that the initial thoughts concerning the tract on confession were taken from this particular psalm. Provenance: Auction J. Baer, Frankfurt /M., 7.11.1932; then privat collection. I: Exlibris rear paste-down, the front one with a cutting of a Newspaper ("Luther als Ritter Görz 1521"). A few short entries to title; title reinforced at joint (border slightly touched; marginal paper defects to title and the next 8 lvs. (without affecting text or illustration); outer margins slightly affected by humidity. Browned throughout, some water-staining (title and 1 leaf more intensively browned). II: Exlibris. Slightly browned throughout, in places water-stainigs to lower margins; upper outer corners with restored paper defect (1 letter affected on 2 leaves), outer margins slightly affected by humidity. Some old marginalia, title reinforced at joint, 1 leaf with a brown ink drawing to the lower margin. Benzing / C. 948; VD 16, L 7182; WA 8, 133 B; Adams L 2038 (without distinguishing the 2 imprints by Lotter and with date "1522?); Knaake I, 180; nicht bei Kuczynski, Hohenemser, Jackson.

Best. Nr.: 190   1200,00 EUR
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(MARCHESINUS, Johannes) - (Marchesini, Giovanni)
(Mammotrectus super bibliam)

Venice, Franciscus (Renner) from Heilbronn and Nicolaus from Frankfurt 1476. Sm.- 4°. 228 lvs. (first + last blank): A-C ⁸; a ¹⁰; b - y ⁸; 1-2 ⁸; 3 ¹⁰. Goth. types, printed in 2 columns. Leaf a 2 recto 39 lines each column and headline. Leaf a ¹ recto richly illuminated with an initial letter (Prologue) "I" (7-lines) in gold and in colour (blue, mauve, green) with highlighting using opaque white, an historiated initial "F" (beginning of the Hieronymus letter) also in gold and in colour (mauve-shading, blue, white highlighting) and a representation of Saint Ambrosius with extensions in the central section (red and green, gold highlights) as well as a four-sided border panel with leaves and flowers (mainly in blue, mauve and green), gold spots and individual thorned tendrils and leafy decoration, also in gold and a medallion / coat-of-arms in form of green bay leaves, a central red field and a flowering tree in green and red. Alternating blue and red initials throughout. Contemporary blind-stamped pigskin over bevelled wooden boards (some rubbings, head and foot of spine and front hinge restored, worm holes). 2 well preserved clasps.

Second edition by Renner (editio princeps: 1470); scarce.

Little has been handed down concerning Johannes Marchesinus' life story: he was a Franciscan monk in the Reggio Emilia area in the vicinity of Modena, living toward the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th centuries. He wrote his work "Mammotrectus super Bibliam" (freely translated as "A basis for understanding the Bible") as a guide to clerics; widely distributed during the late Middle Ages and the early modern era this work belonged to the most important of the Franciscan teaching texts. The ca. 1300 articles are divided into 1. Explanations of difficult biblical terms or idioms; 2. Explanations on orthography and intonation of Latin words, on Bible tradition and council history, to basic principles concerning Bible interpretation and translation, to the old testament feast days and on priestly garments; 3. Tracts on the liturgy and on further religious writings (legends of saints etc.). Erasmus v. Rotterdam subjected the work to a thorough critique, Luther and the protestant theology rejected it completely.

This excellently preserved binding originated in Ulm, probably from one of Konrad Dinckmuts binding workshops. Front and back covers present the identical divisions: an outside plain margin is followed by a wide border, filled with individual stamping (lilies in oval borders); centrally there is a rectangular field, crossed diagonally by incised lines producing triangular fields which are decorated with one or two smaller stamps (swan, round, framed). The same die form decorates the corners of the frames containing the lilies.

Specialist literature:

www.hist-einband.de: s008191, s008193, w00009.

Kyriss: 156, no. 1 + 6.

Amelung: Kommentar zum Faksimile des Ulmer Terenz, Dietikon 1972, p. 17 Hummel: Bibliotheca Wiblingana in: Studien und Mitteilungen zur Geschichte des Benediktinerordens 89 / 1978, p. 532/33.

Breitenbruch: Inkunabeln der Stadtbibliothek Ulm, no. 53 and 101. Laird/Needham/v. Rabenau: Einbandforschung 2 / April 1998, p. 19 (compare Amelung?s commentary in Einbandforschung 5 / October 1999, p. 23).

Provenance:

1. Die Illumination on leaf a1 recto was made by an Italian hand, the coat of arms represents the heraldic shield of an Italian family (see for example Christie?s "The Nakles Collection of Incunabula" [17.4. 2000], lot 98 and 112 and Reiss & Sohn, catalogue 147 [01.11.2011], no. 4456).

2. On the rear end-paper there is preserved an entry of acquision from the year 1520 ("Comparatus sum anno Domini M.V.20").

3. On the front end-paper there is a 16th/17th century entry: "Duplum Bibliothecae regiae Monac(ensis)".

4. Lvs. A ² recto und n ⁶ verso show the ownership stamp of the Franciscanian Monastry Riva del Guarda.

5. Front end-paper with a new ex-libris (collection Legel).

Without front fly-leaf. The endpapers have been renewed with old material, entries from the original endpapers are preserved (see the provenances). The stiching of quires A and B new, the leaves 3 1,2 reinforced at joint. Leaf A 1 (blank) with restored loss of paper. Minor staining. A well preserved copy with a marvellous illuminated page in an superb binding. HC 10557; BMC V, 194; GW M 20827 (online); ISTC im00236000; Goff M 236; Voull. (Berlin) 3690.

Best. Nr.: 647   28000,00 EUR

MEDER, Johannes
Parabola filii glutonis profusi atque prodigi nedum venuste verentiam vtiliter & deuote per venerandum patrem fratrem Joannem Meder ordinis minorum obseruantium Basilee concionata & collecta: pro totius anni precipue quadragesime sermonibus accommodata.

Basle, Michael Furter 1510. Sm.-8vo. (232) lvs. (last blank). Three different printer's devices and 18 full-page woodcuts (copies of the cuts in the incunabula-editions by the "Master of Haintz Narr?. Title printed red and black. New vellum (slightly spotted). Forth edition, first in the postincunabula period. . Text and woodcuts are about the parable of the Prodigal Son. Meder - a monk in Basle and a frend of Sebastian Brant - supervised the printing of the text and the realising of the illustrations himself. (see Winkler, Dürer und die Illustrationen zum Narrenschiff, p 92 f and Muther 470). Title with an old monastic ownership entry. Slightly browned throughout, minor stained. Slim upper margins. A well preserved copy. VD 16, M 1855; BMSTC (German Books) 605; not in Adams. Cf. Schramm XXII, p. 12 / 13 and illustr. 472 - 504.

Best. Nr.: 176   5500,00 EUR

PANVINIUS, ONUPHRIUS (Panvinio Onofrio).
Chronicon ecclesiasticum. A C. Iulii Caesaris dictatoris imperio, usque ad imp. Caesarem Maximilianum II. Austrium, pium, felicem, perpetuum Augustum.

Cologne, Maternus Cholinus 1568. Fol. (8) lvs., 144 (=146) pp. (lacking the last blank leaf). Woodcut device. (BOUND WITH:) PLATINA (= de SACCHI, BARTOLOMEO): Historia de vitis Pontificum Romanorum, a D.N. Iesu Christo usque ad Paulum II. Venetum Papam, longe quam antea emendatior, doctissimarum que annotationum Onuphrij Panvinij accessione nunc illustrior reddita (hg. und kommentiert von Onofrio Panvinio). Louvain, J. Bogardus 1572. Fol. (12) lvs., 392, 128 pp., (12) lvs. (last blank). With repeated woodcut device. 18th century blind-stamped calf (rubbed, spine and corners restored in the 19th century), gilt-stamped title to spine, lacking ties. I. First edition, scarce. II. Third edition with Panvinio's commentaries; rare edition. I. Onofrio PANVINIO (1530 - 1568), "superb historian responsible for ground-breaking writings on the study of Roman antiquity and on church history" (BBKL VI, Sp. 1486), came to the attention of the superiors within his religious order (Augustinian hermits) very early due to his scholarliness, thus receiving permission to live without the monastery and to carry out research. One of his numerous journeys took him to Germany in 1559 where he met the Emperor, Maximilian II, in Augsburg. The Chronicon ecclesiasticum is counted as one of his most important works (for details on his biography and work see BBKL a.a.O., Sp. 1486-89). As a result of his studies concerning the history of the church he also became an important commentator and publisher of the Papstviten of Bartolomeo Platina. Following the text of the Papstviten Panvinio it also included a number of Platina's short works. II: Sixtus IV made B. Sacchi de Platina (1421-1481) the director of the Vatican library and commissioned him to compile biographies of the popes.The portrayals tend to be soberly objective, leaving out many of the miracle legends taken hitherto for granted in comparable descriptions. He exercises great restraint on his own judgements, with one exeption: the depiction of Paul II is extremely involved and negative in its assessment; not surprisingly so, as Sacchi had been incarcerated and tortured on Paul's command, when during an argument ha had threatened the pope with a council. His narration was otherwise remarkably objective,a fact which frequently led historians of Humanism ti adopt passages of his work. This applies e.g. to S. Brant und J. Wimpheling. Thus B. Sacchi, like Foresti, stands at a crossroads between the Middle Ages and the Modern Age, and his significant position there is described by Fueter ("Geschichte der neueren Historiographie?) as follows: "Plantina's work (marks) an important step in the secularisation of history. Platina is the first author who liberated general church history of its ecclesiastical isolation, linking it up with secular history. In this respect be became completely emancipated from his sources...Plantina's objectivity remained unequalled for a long time...In 1580, his work was even banned by the Vatican!? (p. 49/50). It is an particularly fascinating fact that both texts are assembled in this volume; after all, Foresti was among those who used Platina intensively. Later endpapers. Front endpaper with owner's details dated 1840. Title page with some spots rubbed thin (a couple of breaks to the paper with minimal loss to text and illustration); occasional strengthening between text lines with minimal loss to some letters which have been strengthened by hand) and strengthening to folds; verso has paper strip applied for strengthening at top edge (c. 5 cm wide). I: VD 16, P 250; BMSTC (German Books) 673. Not in Adams. II. Adams P 1424; Belg. Typogr. 4016. Neither in BL, nor in Bibl. Belgica.

Best. Nr.: 615   1200,00 EUR
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PETRUS LOMBARDUS - BONAVENTURA
(Sententiarum libri IV). (With Bonaventura's commentary, ed. by. J. Beckenhaub).

Nuremberg, A. Koberger (after 2nd March 1491). Five parts in 3 vols. Vol.1: Part I and V, Vol. 2: Part II, Vol. 3: Part III and IV. Thus complete. Folio. Vol. 1: 204; 110 unnumb. lvs. (of 111: lacking the first blank). Vol. 2: 259 unnumb. lvs. (of 260: lacking the last blank; the first blank preserved). Vol. 3: 217 unnumb. lvs. (of 218: lacking the first blank); 272 unnumb. lvs. Goth. types. Part I illuminated with a large initial in red, blue and green, filled in with geometrical decor and with a border strip; throughout smaller initials in red and blue (alternating), rubricated in the same colours. Both part III and IV decorated with a large miniature in gold and colours (red, blue, green, brown; perhaps by two different hands).Part V illuminated with an initial in blue, red and green, filled in with geometrical decor and with tendril; smaller initials mostly in red, a few in blue, rubrication throughout in red. Vol. 1: Brown leather (c. 1900) with title on spine (soiled). Vol. 2: 18th century vellum (browned, a little bit stained, spine with minor defects). Vol. 3: 18th century half calf (slightly rubbed) with gilt-stamped title on spine. First edition of Bonaventura's complete commentary; very rare (particularly the tabula [= p. V] - probably a little bit later printed [see BMC] - is often lacking or substituited by that one from the Kilian Fischer edition in 1493). The Koberger-tabula exists in 2 variants, in our copy the variant A with 111 lvs. is bound in (in the catalogue of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Munich distinguished from the variant B with 106 leaves). Parts III and IV each with a large full miniature in gold and red, blue, green and brown tones. As the space taken by the miniaturist was intended to be taken by a large initial, the artist has painted an initial in gold and red in a rhombic field, which has been coloured in blue and red, in the left margin next to the first line of text. The illumination at the beginning of part III portrays St. Bonaventura as Bishop of Albano standing next to, and pointing to, the cross and holding his cathedral in the other hand; the second illumination shows Christ on the cross between Bonaventura and Franziskus. In both pictures the cross of Christ is shown as a blossoming tree (as a sign of life). The style of the illuminations is not very far away from that one used in several Franciscan and Dominican convents in the area of Freiburg, Strasbourg, Basle etc. in the second half of the 15th century (the so-called Upper Rhine Convent Painting). Lombardus' "distictiones? are printed in large letters, surrounded by printed marginalia (inner margin) and commentaries (in smaller type). Bonaventura (= Johannes Fidanza, c. 1217 - 1274) the 7th general of the Franciscans and theologian at the university of Paris is said to be the most important mediaeval philosopher and theologian next Thomas Aquinas. The commentary to Petrus Lombardus' "Libri Sententiarum? is one of his main works. Vol. 1: Title of "tabula? reinforced at joint. Front end-paper with 2 ex-libris, front new fly-leaf with a mounted catalogue entry (not relating to our copy) and with a type-written paper describing this copy. Gatherings a - q of the "tabula? mistakenly bound in in front of part 1. The original fly-leaves preserved, newer ones added. In places with finger- or damp-stains, throughout very slightly browned (a few lvs. only more intensively); slim upper margins (head-lines not affected). Otherwise clean. Green edges. Vol. 2: Slightly browned throughout and margins damp-stained (some lvs. more intensively). First and last lvs. soiled and water-marked, otherwise water-marking near the joints. 1 leaf with restored tear to margin (text not affected), first (blank) leaf with worm-tracks, first gatherings with some worm-holes (loss of a few letters). Otherwise clean and with wide margins. Vol. 3: Last leaf mounted. Some worm-holes (loss of a few letters), slim upper margins (head-lines not touched). Very slightly browned throughout, minor finger-staining. Lower margin of fol. A II with a paper defect (erasure) and with an old ownership entry (partly inked-out). A few marginalia by an old hand, mottled edges. A clean copy with 2 splendid illuminations. HC*3540 (about the "tabula? see BMC and Goff); BMC II, 433; Goff P-486; GW (online) M32527; ISTC ip00486000; BSB/Ink. P-387; IGI 7643.   

Best. Nr.: 139  31000,00 EUR 

 

PINDAR (Pindarus, Pindaros) - LONICER, Johan (nes)
Pindari poetae vetutissimi, Lyricorum facile principis, Olympia Pythia Nemea Isthmia Per Ioan. Lonicerum latinitate donata: adhibitis enarrationibus, e Graecis Scholijs, & doctissimis utriusque linguae autoribus desumptis: quarum suffragio Poeta, a paucis hactenus intellectus, nunc planior illustrior redditur.

Basle, A. Cratander 1535. 4to. (6) lvs., 458 pp., (9) lvs. Repeated printer's device on title and last leaf verso. Contemp. blind-stamped calf (spine new, 2 corners restored), ties new. Second Latin edition on Pindar's poems (first: 1528), the first one with commentary.

Only a small portion of the complete works of Pindar (522 or 518 - ca. 440 B.C.), born in the vicinity of Thebes, has been handed down; most of this deals with songs of praise dedicated to the winners of contests at Olympia, Delphi, at Isthmos and in Nemea. These were often written on commission for aristocrats across the entire Greek-speaking world of the time, including Sicily. Pindar's works were highly regarded in the literature of Rome (e.g. Horace) and admired in England (Milton), France (Boileau) and also in Germany, especially amongst the so-called Romantics (e.g. A. v. Platen); contemporary to this many of his works were translated into German (Humboldt, Hölderlin).

Johannes Lonicer (c. 1497 - 1569) entered - like Luther - the order of Augustine early in life, studied in Erfurt and Witttenberg and fell, the more he came under the influence of Luther's teachings, more and more into conflict with the official church doctrines. After periods in Esslingen, Freiburg and Straßburg, where he worked for various publishers as copy editor, he was awarded a teaching chair at Marburg, initially for Greek, later theology.

The embossing of the binding is identical on both sides: several different individual stamps within a rhombus-shaped grid: fan-like leafwork , a wanderer supporting himself on a staff and lilies; the half fields at the edges are filled with a beetle stamp surrounded by square frame. The stamps of the wanderer and the beetle stamp are barely mentioned in the literature. The binding could have originated in the Rhine or lower Rhine areas.

The flyleaf and endpapers are parchment. Title has larger piece missing at the side (recto small amount, verso minimal text loss) which has been reinforced, edge and fold strengthening, one worm hole also repaired. Additionally several handwritten entries on title, two of which indicate church censorship: one that the author had been sentenced but that he had been reinstated; the second mentions Father Paulus Keuth who had corrected the book according to the Index of Forbidden Books (one can see with what skepticism even an innocent work of the Luther supporter Johannes Lonicer was held in catholic circles, a series of whose polemic pamphlets landed in the Index); a third entry (from the 17th century) mentions the Convent of the Birgitten Nunnery in Cologne as owner. Within the title the name of the translator has been thinly underlined and the words "& illustrior" have been crossed out. Front joint broken, last leaf of gathering reinforced. Both endpapers show old library entries. Light browning throughout, some water staining; some rubrication in red and blue. Page 261 has two lines crossed out (in the hand of the "Corrector" named on title page?). VD 16 P 2798; Hoffmann III, 104; Schweiger I, 238; Hieronymus / GG 210; Adams P 1234; BMSTC (German Books) 697.

Best. Nr.: 640   2200,00 EUR
zzgl. Versandkosten (Inland: 7,00 / EU 17,00 / sonstiges Europa 30,00 / Welt 35,00)

[Classics, Greek literature in translations into Latin, fine bindings]

PLATINA, B(attista) (= de Sacchi, Bartolomeo)
...Vita & moribus summorum Pontificum historia, cui aliorum omnium , qui post Platinam vixerunt ad haec usque tempora, Pontificum res gestae sunt additae, numquam natehac in vulgus datae ... Eiusdem De falso & vero bono dialogi tres. Contra amores I. De vera nobilitate I. De optimo cive II. Panegyricus in Bessarionem doctiss(imam) patriarcham Constantin(opolis). Oratio ad Paulum II. Pon(tificem) Max(imum).

Köln, Eucharius Cervicornus (Hirtzhorn) for G. Hittorp 1529. Folio. (6) lvs., 284 pp., (50) lvs. Title with woodcut border by Anton Woensam from Worms. Contemporary blind-stamped calf over wooden boards (spine new, larger leather defects restored, small tears and worm holes without restoration, edges defective); remains of clasps.

The frame surrounding the title (Merlo 420) has been cut from a single piece of wood. It consists of an upper row of images with Christus in the middle, on his right and on his left are two of the evangelists with their various attributes, all five figures being separated from each other by a column. Peter and Paul are illustrated to the right and left sides, next to the text, with keys and sword respectively. In the lower row are four church leaders under arches and each is writing; they, too, are separated by vertical columns. The central character  is carrying a shield in the upper part which depicts the trading symbol of the book publisher Hittorp (see Grimm, Buchdruckersignete, pp. 73/74).

Pope Sixtus IV made B. Sacchi de Platina (1421-1481) the director of the Vatican library and commissioned him to compile biographies of the popes. The portrayals tend to be soberly objective, leaving out many of the miracle legends taken hitherto for granted in comparable descriptions. He exercises great restraint on his own judgements, with one exeption: the depiction of Paul II is extremely involved and negative in its assessment; not surprisingly so, as Sacchi had been incarcerated and tortured on Paul's command, when during an argument ha had threatened the pope with a council. His narration was otherwise remarkably objective,a fact which frequently led historians of Humanism ti adopt passages of his work. This applies e.g. to S. Brant und J. Wimpheling. Thus B. Sacchi, like Foresti, stands at a crossroads between the Middle Ages and the Modern Age, and his significant position there is described by Fueter ("Geschichte der neueren Historiographie?) as follows: "Plantina's work (marks) an important step in the secularisation of history. Platina is the first author who liberated general church history of its ecclesiastical isolation, linking it up with secular history. In this respect be became completely emancipated from his sources...Plantina's objectivity remained unequalled for a long time...In 1580, his work was even banned by the Vatican!? (p. 49/50). Platina's text ended with Paul II.

This edition has been extended to include short biographies of the successors Sixtus IV, Innocence VIII, Alexander VI, Pius III, Julius II, Leo X, Hadrian VI and Clement VII; so bringing the line of succession up to the time of publication.

A few shorter writings by the author have been appended: De falso & vero bono dialogi tres. Contra amores. De vera nobilitate. De optimo cive. Panegyricus in Bessarionem doctiss(imam) patriarcham Constantin(opolis). Oratio ad Paulum II. Pon(tificem) Max(imum). According to VD 16 there was no individual publication for any of these writings in German-speaking countries during the 16th century; they were always added to the Vitae.

Provenance:

1. On the last (white) page one can find the following entry in calligraphic writing: "Liber monasterii Sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli Abdinghoff intra Paderbornam / Emptus XI solidi paderbornae / Anno domini 1529." This is an ownership and purchase entry for the Abdinghoff monastery in Paderborn. This Benedictine monastery was founded in the 11th century and was in existence up to the secularisation in 1803. The monastery achieved cultural significance throughout the area due to its library, the bookbinding and its scriptorium.

2. Title in lower white margin has manuscript ownership entry of C. Schlegel with the addition: "pax 1710 mense Aprili in Belgio facta". This addition obviously refers to the Spanish War of Succession and the military activities associated with it in the Netherlands in 1710, and especially to the Congress of Gertruydenburg, where the warring parties attempted to hold peace talks but which did not achieve any lasting peace.

The binding originates from the bookbinding workshop of the Abdinghof monastery (EBDB w002104). The front and back covers are each divided by ruled lines into nine rectangular fields (leaving a larger central section on the front cover, but almost equally spaced horizontal sections on the back cover); these are decorated with an assortment of individual stamps. K.v. Rabenau describes (in S-S II, p. 214 - freely translated) the characteristics of this binding so: "An extremely accomplished stamp maker in the town ... created, inspired by the iron foundries of the country, several taler-sized stamps of figures, which, small artworks in their own right, ... gave the bindings in Paderborn their particular religious ?saintly' look". The website of the Erzbischöflichen Akademischen Bibliothek von Paderborn (EAB) describes the different rhombus-framed figure stamps: One of the rhomboid stamps presents a portrait of St Benedict, the patron of the order, the other stamp presents Maria, the patron of the bishopric of Paderborn. These three stamps come to light only on bindings of books which carry the ownership markings of Abdinghof, and can be regarded quasi as "supralibros". The particularly religious character of these monastic bindings is also clear when we look at this example regarding the actual sequence and placement of the stamps: the stamp of the lamb (Agnus Dei) is exactly placed in the centre of the larger middle section of the front cover and is then surrounded by two stamps of St Benedict and two of Maria, 8 hearts and 6 ibex stampings; together they form almost an oval around the holy lamb. This orientation of the stamp organisation focuses strongly on the central section and is continued within the narrower bands above and below where there is a rhomboid stamp placed exactly in the middle (Maria above, Benedict below).

Best. Nr.: 639   4200 EUR
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[Ecclesiastical history, history of popes, fine bindings]

PLINIUS SECUNDUS (The Elder), C(aius)
Historiae mundi libri XXXVII ex postrema ad vestustos codices collatione cum annotationibus et indice.

Basle, (Hieronymus) Froben (und Nikolaus Episcopus) 1539. Folio (36,1 x 24,5 cm). (18) lvs., 671 pp., (1) p., (26) pp., (88) lvs. Printer's device (3 repetitions) and numerous initials by Hans Holbein The Younger. Contemp. blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards (darkened, stained, corners and head of spine defective), small spine label, 2 original clasps. Edit by S. Gelenius and with his commentaries. The device used in this book is Froben's bigger one and designed by Holbein The majority of the larger initials, eight-line high, are taken from an Alphabet with scenes from the old testament and mythology (Müller No. 140), a number from the Hercules-Alphabet (Müller No. 139), some of the smaller with mythological and genre scenes (Müller No. 141), all designed by H. Holbein the Younger and of which the first two are cut by J. Faber. Four of these initials are copies of the Holbein Alphabet depicting children and putti (Müller No. 133). Sigismundus Gelenius (i.e. Zikmund Hrubý z Jeleni, ca. 1498 - 1554) was one of the most important employees at the publishing house of Froben, primarily as publisher and as translator from Greek. After having worked as editor on the printing of the B.-Rhenanus-edition of Plinius 1530, for the editions of 1535 and 1539 he acted as publisher and also added his own commentaries. The "Historia naturalis" of C. Plinius Secundus (the Elder, 23/4 - 79 A.D.) is the largest extant prose work of Latin antiquity; basing his work on Greek authors such as Aristotle and Theophrast he was able to create a relatively rigid system within his work: After the index follow 18 books devoted to nature as such (e.g. cosmology, astronomy, geography, anthropology, zoology and botany) and 18 on the relationship between man and nature (e.g. medicinal substances, natural resources). This work became a model for later works of this nature (see DNP 9, Sp. 1135-1141). This example presents an unusual binding consisting of a combination of late gothic and Renaissance elements. The front cover is decorated with a rectangular panel which is embellished with rhombus pattern of individual stamps surrounded by a narrow basket-weave band which border on three further rollwork designs, one of individual stamps similar to the diamond pattern, one with foliage pattern and finally an empty roll which has single designs in the corners and binding points. The rear cover presents a similar division of panels although the stamps used are not always identical. In the rectangular central panel rollwork lines together with the foliage stamp form a decorative diamond pattern, in the middle of which there is an unusual stamp: a rosette surrounded by pomegranate patterns formed to take the shape of a cross/ leafwork pattern also enclosed within a diamond (the corners of the diamond decorated with rosettes). One set of rollwork - also with the foliage decoaration - borders this, followed by a single pomegranate stamp and the roll of foliage from the front cover. Finally one can see the empty rollwork in the corners and binding points (ribs) again using the individual stamp from the front cover. A striking detail is the where the central panel is surrounded by the next border ruled lines have been drawn to connect the outer corners with the inner corners thus creating new fields, and these have been decorated with the pomegranate stamp (only partially visible). The organisation of the panels of the rear cover are similar to that which Schlechter (see Augenweide und Schutz. Einbände des 15. bis 17. Jahrhunderts. Koblenz 2008) illustrates under Number 21. There are not as many roll stamps (the binding in Schlechter is considerably smaller than this here) and the rhombus and rectangles are decorated with other rolls. Schlechter illustrates only the front cover but claims that the back cover is identical. The period in which the two bindings were produced is the same: the two rolls in Schlechter are dated (1528 and 1531), the binding applied to a work printed in Basle in 1549. As possible source of the binding Schlechter writes: "Southern Germany. Unknown workshop". One could probably expand this somewhat: "Possibly Rhineland-Palatinate". Lacking front fly leaf. 2 ownership entries to title (Henricus Altendorf, Jodocus Henricus Hoen, the last one dated "1726"), an old purchase entry, a small stamp and an entry inked out to title as well. The same small stamp and a new ownership inscription to front fly leaf, rear end-paper with 2 short entries. Worm holes (loss of letters). VD16 P 3540; Adams P 1566 (incompl. copy); Schweiger II; 787; BMST Ohne vorderen Vorsatz. Titel mit zwei Bsitzereinträgen (Henricus Altendorf, Jodocus Henricus Hoen, letzterer datiert mit 1726), einem alten Kaufvermerk, einem kleinen Namensstempel und einem ausgestrichenen Eintrag; vorderer Spiegel mit dem gleichen kleinen Namensstempel und einem neueren Besitzereintrag; hinterer Spiegel mit zwei kurzen Einträgen. Anfangs und im zweiten Teil zunehmend mit Wurmlöchern (Buchstabenverluste). Insgesamt ein gut erhaltenes Exemplar im originalen Zustand. VD16 P 3540; Adams P 1566 (unvollst. Ex.); Schweiger II; 787; BMSTC (German Books) 705; Ebert 17280.

Best. Nr.: 633   2900,00 EUR
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Pomponius MELA - Iulius SOLINUS - ANTONINUS Aug(ustus) - P(ublius) VICTOR - DIONYSIOS (Periegetes) Afer.
(De situ orbis). (Collectanes rerum memorabilium). Itinerarium Antonini Aug(usti) ubibus sequester. De regionibus urbis Romae. De situ orbis...

Venice, in aedibus Aldi et Andreae Soceri, October 1518. 8vo. 233 lvs. (1 blank), (2) lvs. (of 3: lacking 1 blank). Aldus' device (Fletcher no. 11) on title and last leaf verso. New leather in a 16th century style, spine label. Only Aldus edition. . Editio princeps of Publius Victor, second edition of Antoninus Augustus' itinerar, probably 3rd of the Latin version of Dionysios. Pompeius Trogus published his major work, the "Historiarum Philippicarum libri XLIV", under Tiberius. The first six books deal with the Assyrians, Persians, Scythians and the Greeks. In books 7-40 the Macedonian Monarchy and the Diadoci Empire are portrayed until such time as they were absorbed into the Roman Empire. Trogus wrote of the history of the Parther in his 41st book up to the time when the battle standard was returned to Augustus in the year 20. His review of the time of the Roman monarchy ends with Tarquinius Priscus. Gaul and Spain follow up to the victory of Augustus over the Spanish. The Macedonian Empire takes centre stage, while the Roman Empire is the end point of Trogus' work; all local developments come together in the Roman. This arrangement is particularly noticeable in the Prologues. Trogus has only survived through the Epitome of Justinus and a number of quotations and summaries. Herodianus (born c. 180 A.D.) probably came from Antiochia in Syria. His story takes place during the years 180 (death of Marc Aurel) to 238 A.D. (autocracy of Gordian III). He is important, among other things, for his influence on Roman historical writers of the 4th century A.D. (Aurelius Victor, Amm. Marcellinus, Eutropius) as well as on Augustan history. Title browned, first lvs. water-marked, last lvs. with restored worm-track to lower margin, a few finer-stains. A clean, probably washed copy. Renouard 83; Fletcher p. 113; Schweiger II, 607 ("seltene Ausg."); Rossetti G-231; Adams M1053; BMSTC (Italian Books) 432.

Best. Nr.: 110   4600,00 EUR
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Quintilianus, M(arcus) F(abius).
(Institutiones oratoriae).

Venice, in Aedibus Aldi et Andreae Soceri, August 1514. Sm.-4to. (4) lvs. (last blank), 230 lvs. Repeated Aldus' - device (Fletcher no. 11) on title and last leaf verso. 18th century leather (edges, joints and leather defects on rear board restored, some soiling). First Aldus-edition. Quintilian (c. 35 - 96 A.D.) was active in Rome as lawyer and teacher of rhetoric and later - under Vespasian - as salaried tutor at a school of rhetoric and, through his introduction to public speaking, provides us with the most detailed systematic presentation of this subject from classical times. Based on the works of Cicero, he distances himself from the "Old School" (Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, Cato the Elder) with their plain "dryness" and also from the mannerisms of several of his contemporaries (e.g. Seneca). Although only read by academics in the late classical period and more or less completely forgotten during the middle ages, since the Renaissance his work has spread and with it an enormous after-effect, subsequent to a copy of his "Institutiones" being discovered in St. Gallen at the beginning of the 15th century. Title and 3 lvs. with restored marginal paper defects (not touching text / woodcut), 1st gathering c. 1 mm shorter trimmed than the other ones (possibly from an other copy of that edition), 1 leaf reinforced at joint. Title, first and last lvs. finger-stained, in places light water-marking (to lvs. 120-124 more intensively). A few old marginalia. Renouard 113,6; Cat. Laurenziana 126; Fletcher p. 112; Schweiger II, 842; BMSTC (Italian Books) 546; Adams Q 52.

Best. Nr.: 130   4800,00 EUR
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REGINO PRUMIENSIS (FROM PRÜM) ( - ADALBERT from WEIßENBURG).
Annales, non tam de Augustorum vitis, quam aliorum Germanorum gestis et docte et compendiose disserentes, ante sexingentos fere annos editi...(ed. by Sebastian von Rotenhan).

Mainz, Johann Schöffer 1521. Folio. (12), 58, (2) lvs. With woodcut title border, 2 full-page woodcuts (Rotenhan's portrait and coat-of-arms) and some woodcut initials. New leather (corners and edges slightly rubbed), both front and rear board covered by old blind-stamped leather (heavily rubbed, leather defects). First edition of both Regino's chronicle and the continuation attributed to Adalbert of Weissenburg. Regino's text ends on page 50 verso. This edition is basing on a copy (by Conrad Peutinger now in the British Museum, Kurze B2l resp. A1g) of a manuscript written in Freising (Kurze A 1) and a second manuscript (from the Reichenau now in Karlsruhe , Kurze B2i). All the manuscrips of the tradition "A? contain both Regino and the continuation, regino's text probably revised by Adalbert (see Frase p. 23 ff.). E. Thormählen (Gutenberg Jahrbuch 1934. p. 148, 154) attributes the woodcuts - together with several illustrations of the Schoeffer-Livius (1523) - to Faber of Creuznach. Benzing/Presser (500 Jahre Mainzer Buchdruck. p. 44 und 46), Knaus (Gutenberg Jahrbuch 1952. p. 82 ff. and E. Geck (Mainzer Almanach. 1964. p. 149) agree on this attribution, Brücker (Conrad Faber von Creuznach. 1963. p. 96) contradicts. The title border has been used first time in Schoeffer's Livius edition in 1518. Regino's (died 915) chronicle starts with the birth of Christ and goes up to the year 906; especially for the c. 30 years it is an important historical source. Adalbert of Weissenburg (later the first archbishop of Magdeburg) wrote the continuation between 966 - 968 describing the time of the emperors Henry I, Otto I. and Otto II. (up to the coronation of Otto II. at Rome in 967). Provenance: The title bears 2 ownership inscriptions, one of them says: "Ex Libris Francisci Du Molinet Domini De Rosoy 1653". It shows that the book has been in the possession of the lawyer François de Molinet (died 1695) from Langres (Haute-Marne) At the time of Louis XIV. he was royal prosecutor and mayor of Langres. By his hand a price inscription as well: 20 livres. Front paste-down and fly-leaf old, the rear ones renewed with old paper. Front fly-leaf with entries regarding this edition. In places marginal annotations and underlinings, 1 leaf with small loss of paper (not touching text). Slightly browned throughout, a fresh copy of the rare edition (Vogt in "Catalogus ... librorum rariorum": "Editio ... rarissima" [51793, p. 715]). VD 16, R 599; Roth ( Schöffer) 75; Kurze p. XIV; Schleidgen p. 103; Panzer, Annales VII, 44; Adams R 276; BMSTC (German Books) 728; Ebert 19018 ("sehr seltne erste Ausg.?); Graesse VI, 64; Brunet IV, 1182.

Best. Nr.: 144   3900,00 EUR
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RONDELETIUS, Gulielmus.
... Libri de Piscibus Marinis, in quibus verae Piscium effigies expressae sunt...

Lyon, Matthias Bonhomme 1554. Folio. (8) lvs., 583 pp., (12) lvs. About 260 woodcuts of marine fauna, 1 portrait, 1 device, many woodcut initials. Eighteenth century parchment (stained, cover somewhat warped) with blind-stamped rules to the leading edges and gold embossed spine title. First edition of this part. One year later a second part was issued, also by Bonhomme in Lyon. One of the earliest printed works devoted to fish with descriptions of some 265 different species. According to Nissen (Fischbücher p. 13) Rondelet's work is the most important of the three illustrated books on fish published during the middle of the 16th century which, in its representation of the subject moved away from the traditional middle ages concept of a mythical creature but oriented itself much more on reality. 18th century fly leaves and paste-downs, purchase entry to front fly leaf. Ownership-inscription ("1696") to title recto, another one, dated 1776, to title verso. Slightly browned throughout (a few lvs. More intensively) in places with damp- or finger-stains Small upper margins (headline of some leaves touched); old marginalia. Adams R 746; Baudrier X, 239; Gültlingen VIII, 203, Nissen ZBI 3474; Nissen (Fischbücher) 105.

Best. Nr.: 173   3200,00 EUR
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RULAND (the Elder), Martin
Synonyma. Copia Graecorvm verborvm omnivm absolvtiss. Antehac nusquam terrarum visa: pro Graece loqui & scribere perquam facile, bene ac copiose volentibus summo labore collecta: & postremo nunc ita (quod sequens pagella ostendet) aucta & emendata, ut mirifico vsui omnibus esse possint.

Augsburg, M. Franck 1567. 8vo. (464) lvs. Contemporary blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards (darkened, with some stains, lightly rubbed), without clasps. Very rare 2nd edition of this dictionary of Greek synonyms. The well preserved binding bears two plates with the Seven Liberal Arts (front cover: Grammatica -Dialectica -Rhetorica -Arithmeti[ca]; rear cover: Musica - Geometrica -Astronomia ). The second plate is dated (1566) and initialled "AG". Haebler (I, p.132) assigns this to the Wittenberg bookbinders Andreas Güttig or Arnold Genschel (plates I and III). Both plates are surrounded by a virtue roll stamp ( Spes -Fides -Temperantia -Charitas as full-length human figures) with the monogram »HP" ( Hans Pfister, Nuremberg / Haebler I, p.329, roll 3). In addition the front cover has been embossed with the owner's name "A MITZL/POMERANUS" and the date 1569. Lacking front fly-leaf. Title with old ownership inscriptions. First leaves with small worm-tracks (loss of a few letters), slightly browned throughout, in places with damp- or water-stains. VD 16, R 3689. Neither in BMSTC nor in Adams.

Best. Nr.: 169   1350,00 EUR
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SLEIDANUS (i.e. Philippi), Johannes
Commentariorum de statu religionis & Reipublicae, Carolo Quinto CarsareLibri XXVI. Vna cum apologia ab ipso Authore conscripta...

Strasbourg, Theodosius Rihel (about 1560). 8vo. (8) lvs., 872 pp., (12) lvs. (two blanks). Printer's woodcut device. Contemporary blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards (darkened and stained, rubbed, edges and corners with small leather defects), two spine labels, 2 clasps (one still working). Still early edition (first: 1555). Johannes Sleidanus (1506 - 1556) was born Johannes Philippi. At an early age he directed his attention to the Reformation, and after spending several years as secretary to the du Bellay brothers who had cultivated contacts between France and the Schmalkaldic League, he was employed by this league as historian of the Reformation. He earned a fair amount of criticism as a person who described historical events which he attempted to explain in his "Apologia"; this was, however, only added to a number of later editions his work issued posthumously. He methodically based his writings on various sources (he was given access to a number of archives even though this was not a common phenomenon at this time, or specially selected material was made available to him), and which he then proceeded to articulate in detailed papers. "He employed those methods which later would be used in the 17th and 18th centuries" (Ehmer in Historiographie am Oberrhein. p. 242). Thanks to the critical distance between him and to the sources he used his work was also highly acclaimed in non-protestant circles and remained "until (Leopold von) Ranke the essential historical reference work on the Reformation in Germany" (Ehmer a.a.O.). Sleidanus completely dispensed with autobiographical additions when covering his topics and his arguments were strictly historical in nature; the work begins with vexed issue of the granting of indulgences and marks the year of 1517 as a turning point, and it continues until the year 1556, the year of the author's death. The well-preserved binding has the same decoration on both front and back: To the outside there is a roll emboss working of one of the virtues (Spes-Fides-Carit[as]) with complete figures and leafwork over their heads, within there is a plate with script below in a cartouche ("I REGVM / XVI. CAP."). Above and below this plate section there is a horizontal rectangular frame with flower and leaf stamp. Front endpaper has a long text concerning ownership and presentation (dated 1611 and referring to a member of the clergy, Cristophorus Christen). Another (probably later) ownership inscription to front fly leaf. The main part of an inscription on lower margin of title cut away. Front joint cracked. Marginalia and underlinings; some browning throughout, light water-markings to the first gatherings, in places small brown-stains. V. d. Vekene (Sleidanus) E/a 020.F; Muller (Th. Rihel) 1; Adams S 1294; this variant not in VD 16, (cfr. S 6679 und 6680) and not in BMSTC (German Books).

Best. Nr.: 149   2600,00 EUR
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SOPHOCLES.
(Greek:) Tragodiai hepta ...Tragoediae septem...

Frankfurt, P. Braubach 1555. 8vo. 417 pp., (1) p. (of 422 : lacking the two blank final leaves). Some woodcut initials. (BOUND WITH:) LUCIANUS: Dialogi ... selectiores, Superorum, Marinorum & Inferorum. Quibus additi sunt Prometheus, sive Caucasus. Menippus, seu Necyomantia. Timon, vel Misanthropos...Strasbourg, Cephalaeos (= Köpfel) Bros., 1556. 8vo. (8) lvs. (the last two blank), 130 lvs. (the last one misnumbered ["116"]), (6) lvs. Printer's device in woodcut on last leaf verso. Dated ("1560") contemporary blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards (darkened, rubbed [spine, edges and corners heavily], rear board water-marked, spine with a few worm-tracks), remains of clasps. I: Third Braubach edition in Greek, much rarer than the quarto edition of the same year (not in Schweiger, Hoffmann, Adams, Graesse, in German libraries 3 copies only). II: Bilingual edition (Greek - Latin) of selected works, probably the second by Köpfel Bros. Very scarce too (not in Schweiger, Hoffmann). Both front end-paper and fly-leaf with ownership and donation entries (the oldest one from 1562!), rear end-paper with entries as well. I: Title and p. 8 printed in red and black, title with entries. The first quires with extensive annotations (later decreasing). Browning throughout, in places finger-stained (title and first leaves more intensively) some quires water-marked to joint or lower edge. Last leaf with small tear to upper margin. II: Title with handwritten entry and paper defects to lower margin (not affecting text). Slightly browned throughout, in places with stains, last leaves water-marked. Last leaf stained more heavily. I: VD 16, S 7036; BMSTC (German Books) 820; see Löwe in: Gutenberg Jahrbuch 1940, p. 309. II:VD16 ZV 9918 (4 copies only: Vienna and 3 in Germany); Muller (Koepfel Bros.) 5 (with the copy at Vienna only).

Best. Nr.: 151   2800,00 EUR
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STROZZI (, Ercole & Tito "Vespasiano?)
Strozii poetae pater et filius.

(Basle, B.Westheimer c. 1545). 8°. (8), 259 lvs., (1) leaf (blank). Counterfeit Aldus' device on title. Contemporary blind-stamped pigskin (rubbed, stained, upper sine end defective, corners as well); handwritten title on spine. The original edition (Venice, Aldus 1513) was counterfeited in 1530 by Simon de Colines, and our edition is a counterfeit of the Colines imprint. Rare.

This Pseudo-Aldine is identical in content to the original, but the printing is not one-to-one causing different pagination. That is because the type used by Westheimer is very close to the Aldus, but is not exactly identical. Fletcher devoted a complete chapter to Pseudo-Aldine works in his catalogue and pointed out that especially the Aldus classic editions in pocket book format (so-called portable library editions) were quickly successful on the market and inspired pirate publishers who wished to participate in their success. The publishing privilege which the Venetian printer had obtained for his works and which theoretically prevented pirate copies did not help much in this regard: they protected him only within the realm covered by Venetian laws.

This edition comprises of two parts where the songs and epigrams of Ercole Strozzi form the first, and the writings of Tito "Vespasiano" (6 books of erotica, 3 books Aeolosticha, 1 book of sermons), his father, build the second part. This work is similar to the first edition of Bembo's "Asolani" by opening with a preface addressed to Lucrezia Borgia by Aldus Manutius who became a member of the humanist circle during his studies in Ferrara (to 1482).

Both Strozzis belonged to the neo-Latin school of humanists in Ferrara and - like Pietro Bembo - to admirers of Lucrezia Borgia; Tito (1425-1505) acquired the nickname "Vespasiano" in allusion to the Roman emperors of that name some time about 1460 -. A protege of the rulers of Ferrara, the d'Este princely dynasty, and especially of Borsio, he achieved literary acclaim as the rediscoverer of the Latin bucolic poetry; besides love poetry and eclogues he wrote an uncompleted epic poem dedicated to the d'Estes ("Borsias"), which was first published in the 20th century. He also made a career for himself socio-politically: he rose to become a member of the highest rank of judges in Ferrara (and later installed his son as deputy); he received a number of representative estates from Borso d'Este including one on a tributary of the Po and Sandalo (today on the outskirts of the village Quartesana on the lagoon of Comacchio); from 1484-89 he was governor of Logo and, as such, he led a delegation to Rome in 1485. Ercole (b. 1471) wrote countless poems dedicated to Lucrezia Borgia and is also known for a lamentation to the dead for Cesare Borgia written in 1508. The birth of the heir to the throne in the same year was another occasion demanding an eclogue. Even the circumstances surrounding his death helped further the reputation of the younger Strozzi: "Thirteen days latere [following his wedding to Barbara Torelli], on the morning of the 6th June [1508], the body of the poet was found in a corner of the Este palace, today known as Pareschi, lying prostrate and shrouded in his coat, hair dishevelled, and covered with twenty-two wounds. The whole of Ferrara was shocked: Strozzi was the celebrity of the city, one of the most brilliant of writers of his time, a darling of all aspirants, a friend of Bembo and Ariostos, protégé of the Duchess, and highly respected at court. Following the death of his father, Titus, he took over his post as president of the twelve judges of Ferrara. He was in the prime of his life; he was just twenty-seven years old" (Gregorovius a.a.O. p. 269). Lucrezia's husband, the ruling prince Alfonso d'Este fell - and now from what we know today, correctly so - under suspicion of arranging the act out of jealousy (Strozzi was not simply one of Lucrezia's intimate confidants, he was also frequently the carrier bringing very personal messages to and from her [Schüller-Piroli p. 161 ff.]). But Lucrezia, too, was also tainted with the suspicion of murder in order to keep an earlier affair she had had with Bembo a secret, a secret of which Strozzi was aware (after all, they had met at the estate of Strozzi himself during the time when Bembo was working on his "Asolani" [Schüller-Piroli p. 123 ff.]). His posthumous reputation was not least thanks to Ariosto who, in one of his verses, calls him the Herald of Lucrezia's fame (Gregorovius a.a.O. p. 270).

The binding is dated (1574) and shows monogram stamps (VDS).

Two ownership stamps of an Augustine monastery in Münnerstadt (Germany) on title, another entry to upper margin, dated 1803 (in this year the monatery was closed). The last 30 lvs. With water-staining, slightly browned throughout.

VD16 S 9738; Renouard I/99; Adams 1958; Ald.-Coll. Berlin 477. Not in Pierpont Morgan Library (see Fletcher S. 128/29).

Best. Nr.: 638   2 600 EUR
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Strozzi (, Ercole & Tito "Vespasiano?)
Strozii poetae pater et filius.

Venedig, Aldus & Asolanus 1513 (following the Venecian calendar; according to the usual European calendar 1514). 8vo. (8), 99 lvs., (1) leaf, 152 lvs. With Aldus' device (Fletcher Nr. 11) on title and last leaf verso. 16th century gilt-stamped vellum (darkened, soiled, rubbed); new end-papers and fly leaves, lacking ties. First Aldus edition of Strozzis' poems, first edition of most of the complete works; scarce. This edition comprises of two parts where the songs and epigrams of Ercole Strozzi form the first, and the writings of Tito "Vespasiano" (6 books of erotica, 3 books Aeolosticha, 1 book of sermons), his father, build the second part. This work is similar to the first edition of Bembo's "Asolani" by opening with a preface addressed to Lucrezia Borgia by Aldus Manutius who became a member of the humanist circle during his studies in Ferrara (to 1482).

The decoration of the binding presents an outer frame with a closely set, slightly spirally winding pattern, copied from Greek art. Centrally there is a floral design, and also floral decoration in the corners of the frame.

PROVENENCE: The reverse of the title page has an autograph in the form of a six-line dedication to the two Strozzis from Daniel Finus; leaf A8 verso also has a longer laudation to Aldus Manutius by him written in manuscript. The first was never published and the second not during the 16th century (hence neither can be found in Bertalot's listing).

The copy of the work here is very likely to be the actual dedicated volume from Aldus Manutius to Fini and in which he wrote his poem.

 

For full description please click the button "The special offer" with the detail pages.

 

Light browning throughout (a few leaves somewhat more so) and finger marks mainly concerning the bottom outside page edges; occasional mould or water stains (but mostly to outside edges), two pages with small amount of damage to paper at the lower bottom white margin. On the whole, an unusual document with reference to Humanism in Ferrara and in an extremely rare contemporary binding.

Censimento 16 CNCE 37457; Renouard / Ald. I, 98; Fletcher p. 111; Cat. Laur. 111; Ald. Slg. SBB 203; Adams S 1956; BMSTC (Italian Books) 650; Ebert 21848.

Best. Nr.: 637  14000,00 EUR  

SYNESIOS von KYRENE.
Epistolae lectu dignitissimae, in utriusque linguae studiosorum gratiam Graecè ac Latinè editae: Thoma Naogeorgo Straubingensi interprete.

Basle, J. Oporinus (1558). Sm.-8vo. (24) lvs., p. 17-515 (thus compl.), (1) p. (blank). (Bound with): (Pseudo-)PHALARIS of AGRIGENTUS. Epistolae doctissimae, Graecè ac Latinè. Thoma Naogeorgo interprete. Basle, J. Oporinus (1558). Sm-8vo. 253, (3) pp. (last blank). Contemporary vellum (soiled, spine defective. I: Second Greek edition, first bilingual. II: Fifth Greek edition, 2nd bilingual one. Writing of the missing letter 'a' in Synesios, Hieronymus: " In 1551/52 and again at the beginning of 1552 Naogeorg (Kirchmeyer, 1511-1563) was residing in Basel, in 1557-59 he is in Stuttgart. His letter of dedication to the mayor and council of his place of birth near Straubing is dated Stuttgart, 1. March 1559. This letter of over 40 pp. reached the printer in Basle one year after the translation and printing of the Synesios text. For this reason it has been bound instead of gathering a and has the gathering marks a - y". Synesios of Kyrene (c. 370 - c. 415 A.D.) belonged to the so-called Alexandrian School of Neoplatonism, i.e. in the direction of the successors of Plotin, who placed scientific character above religious-metaphysical ideas. Thus, in his later office of Bishop (from 410; it is reported that he allowed himself to be baptised only after he took office) he saw no contradiction with philosophy. Especially in his hymns, the connection between Christianity and Philosophy is a major theme. His numerous letters are an important witness to his thoughts and, at the same time, give clear insights into the period. "This collection (of letters), of which there are 156 written by him, offer us a biography and a history of the culture, behind which we can perceive the imposing personality of the academic author" (Lesky p.987). Phalaris, from 570 - 555 Tyrant of Akragas (Agrigent) and, traditionally, the archetype of the terrible tyrant, has not been considered to be the author of the collection of letters which were issued under his name since the end of the 17th century. Title and front end-papers with ownership entries (1559!! and later). Fly-leaves loose, slightly browned throughout, the margins in places stained. Provenance: Samuel Pellicanus (Zurich), Lassberg library; Court Library Donaueschingen. I: VD 16, S 10412; Hoffmann III, 465; Hieronymus/GG 467; BMSTC (German Books) 846 (mistakenly dated "1559"); Adams S 2208. Not with Schweiger. II: VD 16, P 2431; Hoffmann III, 54; Schweiger I, 226; Hieronymus/GG 269; BMSTC (German Books) 691; Adams P 976.

Best. Nr.: 171   2150,00 EUR
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TACITUS, G (aius) Cornelius
Opera quae exstant. Ad Exemplar quod I. Lipsius quintum recensuit ...

Paris, A. Drouart 1599 (third part: 1590). Three parts in 1 vol. 8vo. (2) lvs., 790 pp., (1) leaf ( blank), (12) lvs., 568 pp., (24) lvs. (last blank), 24 lvs. Repeated printer's device. Superb gilt-stamped red calf with coat of arms of the city of Dole (France) on both boards (slightly rubbed), lacking ties; gilt edges (slightly rubbed).

Rare edition. This edition includes the works of Tacitus, the Commentary by Iustus Lipsius as well as the including the Notes added by Josias Mercerus in a shorter third section (these in the edition published in Paris under A. Drouart 1590).

Even into modern times the historio-political works of Tacitus (ca. 55 - ca. 120 A.D.) have left their mark. In this description of the life of his father-in-law Agricola (De vita Julii Agricolae) he presents a portrait of a Roman senator who managed, even under a despicable emperor (Domitian) to maintain his senatorial-aristocratic virtues; Agricola's military successes as governor in Britain on the other hand are rather over-rated. De origine et situ Germanorum, the writing about the lands and the culture of the Germanic peoples, is written from a strictly Roman persepective: thefurther away from the Roman empire that they found themselves, so more and more wild did the Germanic tribes behave. Tacitus' information on origination and habits presents - despite many inaccuracies - one of the first ehnographic descriptions of the Germanic peoples. Furthermore, he had a clear appreciation of their military potential: in his eyes they presented the greatest threat to Rome. The dialogue on orators (Dialogus de oratoribus) presents an interesting theory: the greater the level of rhetoric (public speaking), then the more fragile is state control. The two main historical works have only been handed down incomplete. The Historiae deals with the period of the Flavian dynasty of emperors (69 - 96 A.D.). Using the Year of the Four Emperors (69) Tacitus portrays the fragility of the Roman system which lay mainly in the failure and the opportunism of leading political groups: the senate, the citizenship of Rome and the army. The Annales reach further into the past and present the period of Tiberius' seizure of power and continue to the death of Nero (14 - 68 A.D.). Here, too, the author presents an overwhelmingly negative picture of the character of the emperor. Politically, Tacitus supported the aristocratic vision of participatory rights for the senatorial upper ranks, but rejected the idea of democratisation that would involve the people; in his opinion only chaos would be the result of such a step.

The excellently preserved binding has the same gold-embossed decoration on both front and back covers: the outside borders are surrounded by a frame decorated within with leafwork. The rectangular central piece has arabesque-like, very finely worked triangular corner pieces with fan-like leafwork. This design is copied centrally around an oval middle leaving a narrow plain area. The central oval surrounds the arms of Franche-Comté; a crowned and standing bear with St Andrew's cross within a frame with six corners. Between the arms and the oval frame there is laurel leafwork and at the top of the oval an angel's head with wings. Around the oval medallion is the inscription: "VIGILAT ET CUSTODIT / SUPR DOLAE SEN COMIT BURG". This refers to a political election slogan of the Parliament of Franche-Comté (see Chassant-Taussin, Suppl. pp. 500 and 548, Gauthier/Lurion No. 30 ill.) which met in the 16th and 17th centuries in Dole and Salins; Louis XIV moved the sittings in 1676 to Besançon (see Olivier 1153). Lt. Olivier was provided with copies in this style of binding by the courts of the Jesuit Convent in Dole to be awarded as prizes.

Slightly browned throughout (first leaves more heavily), in places water staining to margins, some small paper restorations (not affecting text). A well preserved copy in a marvellous binding. Schweiger II, 1000; BMSTC (French Books) 412 (Impressum: Buon's widow).

                                                                            Best. Nr.: 643   14 500 EUR

 

TACITUS, Gaius Cornelius.
Gli annali da Giorgio Dati fiorentino nuovamente tradotti di Latino in lingua Toscana

Venedig, B. Giunti et Fratelli 1589. 4to. (12), 250, (4) lvs. Printer's woodcut device on title, woodcut initials. Contemp. flexible vellum (darkened, stained), title to spine, lacking ties. Third edition of Dati's translation into Italian language (after 1563 and 1582). Towards the end of the 16th century the interest shown by humanistic authors in the historical works of Tacitus (ca. 55 - ca. 120 A.D.) took a new turn. Where the emphasis on Rezeption research into the historical writers of the age of the Rome under its emperors in the first half of the 16th century had been focused on philological works (Italy) and on national history (Germany), the period following the reception of Tacitus' works was influenced by experience in "Wrestling with the correct form of princely rule, as it appeared in a long series of sectarian, rebellious and inter-state conflicts" (DNP 15/3, Sp. 354). This gave rise to the term Tacitism which "arose out of a reaction to these crises, for the need for some kind of orientation with Tacitus, taking the place of Cicero and Livius, becoming the new authority" (a.a.O. Sp. 354/355). His description of the time of the emperors, the fall of the republic and perversion of the principate, based, among other factors, on a deficient inner consolidation, appealed to the writers of the later 16th and early 17th centuries far more than the Augustan historiographies, given the problems facing them in their own times. Translations, such as the present one by Giorgio Dati (1506 - 1557), belong to the category of Tacitism. Ex-libris on front end-paper. Old entry to fly leaf and to title. Slightly browned throughout (end-papers and fly leaves more intensively), a few lvs. With marginal paper defects (not touching text); a well preserved copy. Adams T 46; Cens. 16, CNCE 28534; Schweiger S. 1029; BMSTC (Italian Books) 654.

Best. Nr.: 617   560 EUR
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THEOKRIT (THEOCRITUS - THEOCRITOS).
(Greek:) Tade ene(s)tin, ente garoi se biblo Eidyllia hex kai triakonta. Tou autou Epigrammata enneakaideka. Tou autou peleky kai pterygion. Scholia ta eis auta heuriskomena ek dia-phoroon antigraphoon, eis hen syllechthen ta.

(Rome), Zacharias Kallierges 1516. 8vo. (88), (116) lvs. Two different woodcut devices. The poem "Pelekus" ("axe" / fol.m1 verso) is surrounded by a border formed as a Minoan double axe - head, the poem "Surligx" ("pan-pipe? / fol. i8 verso) by a border looking like a pan-pipe. In the case of the poem "Pteruglos" ("wing"/ fol.m 3 recto) the printer choosed a surrounding looking like a wing; on fol. m3 verso he used a border formed as a podium. Complete and printed in the original Greek. 18the century morocco binding (corners knocked [with occasional loss], some rubbing, new spine) with gilt-stamped rules to leading edges. First edition with commentary by Theocritus, at the same time first edition of the Epigrams, some Idylls as well as the two poems "Axe" and "Pair of wings"; early printing. Two variations of this edition are described in the British COPAC Catalogue: one has the word "enestin" on the title page lacking the Sigma, the other has been correctly printed. Additionally the former lacks the Latin privilege on the reverse of the last page, whereas this is present in the latter edition. The example offered here is - to our knowledge an unrecorded - third variant: title page lacking the Sigma (the missing Sigma has been added by hand in later ink), Latin privilege on the reverse of the last page present. The missing Sigma indicates an early printing before correction. Zacharias Kallierges (c. 1473 - post-1524), "the most important Greek printer" (Graecogermania p. 75) settled in Rome from 1524 - following two periods working as a printer in Venice and intermediate employment as a copyist of Greek manuscripts. In Rome he founded the first publishing house to use the Greek typescript. He was born into one of the most respected Cretian families and enjoyed an excellent humanistic education. This enabled him to collect together commentaries on Theocritus and to publish them (and thereby setting the trend for countlesss subsequent editions of Theocritus which repeatedly reprinted his Scholia). The Theocritus-Edition is Kallierges' second published work while in Rome (after the Pindar edition of 1515), only the fourth edition of the Greek lyricist, and the first to include the Scholia and the epigrams. Theocritus (born pre-300 B.C. in Syracuse, died post-260), spent part of his literary life in Alexandria (where he met Kallimachos) and some of his time on the island of Kos; little in the way of biographical information is known about him. The term "Idyllic" refers largely to the Scholia of Theocritus, although this does not refer to the "bucolic poetry" of later, but of "short pieces" generally; the origin of the term remains a mystery. Theocritus introduced the idea of bucolic poems to literature and in doing so, began a trend: Vergil was amongst his imitators and he, in turn, became the inspiration for lyricists producing this form of bucolic poetry to this day. "Whereas Vergil described an idealistic pastoral life in an Arcadian landscape, Theocritus portrayed the shepherds of his home country with a sense of great realism" (Lesky. p. 811). Praise for the ruling classes and common customs are further themes covered by the poet. The epigrams are frequently found on the gravestones of famous writers and poets, more generally as dedications, and occasionally as bucolic literature. As one of the most important propagators of so-called Alexandrinism, or court poetry found in the circles of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Alexandria, he systematically studied the classic, polis-orientated literature and, furthermore, moved away from it. Thus, his poetry is full of quotations and allusions, but also exploits ironic distance and the attempts to ignore standard limitations und to break traditional rules (see Effe in appendix to the Tusc.-edition). Front end-paper with paper defect and a paper strip with a poem, dated "1816", dated "1816", front fly-leaf with hand-writen entry. Title with ownership entry (Aeg. Delaunay), some hand-written old marginalia in Greek. Slightly browned throughout, minor staining, small tears (worming) in lower margin to ca. 15 leaves (some of them restored, all not affecting text). A well preserved copy of this important imprint. Censimento 16: CNCE 32693 (7 copies in Italy); Legrand I, 49 ("Édition rare et très recherchée?); Graecogermania 42; Hoffmann III, 474; Schweiger I, 309 ("sehr seltene und gesuchte Ausg."); BMSTC (Italian Books) 667; Adams T 460; Staikos 29 (with illustr.).

Best. Nr.: 619   14500,00 EUR

THEOPHYLACTUS Archiepiscopus Bulgariae
In omnes Divi Pauli epistolas Ennarationes ... (translated into Latin by Chr. Porsena)

(Cologne, P. Quentel) 1527. 4to. (6), 362 lvs. Contemp. blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards (darkend, soiled, edges and corners rubbed), spine labels, 1 clasp (of 2). Thus first edition, scarce. According to Hoffmann the commentaries to the letters of Paul as published in translation under the name of Athanasius of Alexandria had appeared as early as 1477 and 1518, Quentel gives 1527 as the first issue under the correct author's name. Similarly, Hieronymus (Griechischer Geist) Erasmus von Rotterdam, in the dedication of an edition of Chrysostomos makes the comment "the commentaries to the letters of Paul which someone ascribed to him (i.e. Athanasius), are ... clearly the work of Theophylactus" (No. 397). The work was first printed in the original Greek in the 17th century. Theophylactus (1050/60 - post-1107) came from Euboia, enjoyed a high standard of education in Constantinople and became a priest and professor for public speaking (rhetoric); Emperor Michael VII engaged him as tutor to his son. Against his wishes he was appointed Archbishop of Ohrid (Bulgaria) and remained there for 25 years as metropolitan of the Bulgarian church. His commentaries to the four gospels and to Paul's letters belong to the standard works of Byzantine Exegesis. The well-preserved binding has unusual decoration: an outer framework is decorated with roll work showing a drum, a horn and a candelabra, within this the next frame is decorated with single stamp work showing the pomegranate motif, another roll of candelabra follows and a pair of figures. Front and back covers are the same. The EBDB assigns similar work to either southern Germany or to the Czech regions. Lacking fly leaves, joints cracked. Library entries to front end-paper, ownership inscription to title. Some browning throughout and light staining. A well preserved copy in its original status. VD 16, B 4991; Hoffmann III, 543; neither in Adams, nor in BL (Online-Catal.).

Best. Nr.: 628   900,00 EUR
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XENOPHON.
(Greek:)Xenophontis hapanta...(Then:)Xenophontis oratoris et historici, propter synceram et melle dulciorem Attici sermonis gratiam, veterum omnium indicio longè clarißimi, opera, quae quidem graecè extant, omnia, duobus tomis distincta, ac nunc primùm à Seb. Castalione àmendis quamplurimis repurgata, et quàm fieri potuit accuratissimè recognita... (With a preface by Philipp Melanchthons).

Basle (M. Isingrin, c. 1545-1548). Two volumes. 8vo. (8) lvs., 651 (recte : 655) pp. ; 859, (45) pp. With some woodcut initials. Contemporary blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards (somewhat thumbed and stained, darkened, edges and corners flattened [lining partly burst open, Volume 1 with two pieces missing], Volume 2 both covers with minor lining fault, also spine in the upper capital ) with three (of four) original brass clasps and hand-written spine label (supposed year of print and Lassberg's shelf mark). Sixth works edition in the Greek original, second in the German language area, extremely rare. Xenophon ( ca. 430- 355 B.C.), a descendant of a rich Attic family, left an extensive oeuvre to posterity. Since the later stages of the ancient world both his historical and his "Memorabiblia? (above all the "Symposium? and the "Apology?) have been frequently read (the "Anabasis? describes the campaign of Cyrus the Younger against Artaxerxes and the author's own leading role during the retreat after the battle of Cunaxa, the "Hellenica? describe Greek history from 411 to 362 B.C., as it were in continuation of Thucydides); shorter practical papers deal among other things with domestic science, horse breeding and horsemanship; "Cyropaedia? as a first novel of character development in the history of literature and "Agesi1aos? as a eu1ogy on the Spartan king are of significant importance in cultural history: they portray the picture of an ideal ruler and thus serve as models for later "Fürstenspiegel", i.e. manuals for the proper education of a sovereign. With his "Cyropaedia? the author also becomes one of the most important pioneers of Hellenism. "By illustrating to his Greek readers the ideal of political (perfection) in the person of a Persian king, he makes them realize that this (perfection) is not the sole privilege of the Greek anymore, but that Persians as well can be inspired by the Grecian (spirit)" (R Nickel). "The Constitution of Sparta? is the oldest preserved paper on this topic and serves as a main source for the image of Sparta right up to modern times, "The Constitution of Athens?, however, is mock-Xenophon style. The two well-preserved bindings show the same decor: Adjacent to an outer scroll with heads and plants there is a narrow rectangle with floral single stamps, an inner field is embellished by two wreath scrolls. Both front covers are dated ("1564?) and initialled "E S K?. Provenance: The spine labels and the front end-paper bear J. Lassberg's library seals, the volumes come from the Fürstenberg Library Donaueschingen. Volume 1 on front end-paper with distinct heraldic pen-and-ink drawing and Latin motto, on the front free end-paper a Cicero couplet and a Greek motto (which is repeated on the free end-paper of the second volume), further short old hand-written entries on free end-papers and end-papers. Both volumes throughout very faintly browned and now and then somewhat mildewed or finger-stained; some hand-written marginalia. All in all two very well preserved volumes in a beautiful first binding of an important provenance. VD 16, X 3; BMSTC (German Books) 931; Schweiger I, 335 ("correct u. gut gedruckt"); Hoffmann III, 575/6; Hieronymus / GG 146; NUC 677/151 (only 4 copies). Not in Adams.

Best. Nr.: 108   5000,00 EUR
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