XVIth Century Books

Koln (Cologne): apud Maternum Cholinum, 1557. Hardcover. Good. Small woodcuts (40 with a few repeats mostly of biblical scenes) + a few historiated initials. . Folio flexible vellum with stubs of ties (some wrinkles /paper spine label & large old shelfmark B) Titlepage +[25pp]=dedication, indices, to reader & errata. +[1p]blank +5-704pp As listed on a4 the book collates !6 #4 a6 b4 c-z6 +A-Z6 +Aa-Mm6 +Nn7 (lacks Nn8=the final blank) Title has stamp of the library of P.P.Capuci & early "sum ex libris Leodegarj a Meggen Can. Beron." Another "Capucinorum in Sursee" also "loci Capu. in Schyfen". Three small pin sized worm holes to TP soon diminishing to one and then none after the first few pages of text. There are two corners torn away without loss, 4 marginal tears (only one into text and that without loss). And p 634 has a marginal paper fault, again not affecting text.Page 479/480 is bound before 477/478. There are a few gatherings that are browner and a few creases. A few ink splatters to about 6… Read More

Venice: Barezzo Barezzi, 1591. Hardcover. Very Good. Fine Royal Neapolitan coat of arms on each titlepage, head- and tail-pieces, fine foliated initials to the Signori di Capuana. . Three Parts in Two Volumes complete, octavo speckled 18th century calf, decorated gilt spines (one spine label missing, tips & edges rubbed hinges split but held by cords) fine marbled end-papers All edges rouged. First titlepage +[31] leaves +244 leaves +2nd title +[15] leaves +258 leaves +[2] leaves +3rd title +[11] leaves +96 leaves. Early paper repair to lower corner of page 1 otherwise crisp & clean throughout, neat pencil notes in Italian to rear end-papers with "the following passage by Costo copied from the edition of 1563 .. at Florence 24 Mar. 1832 W.M Tarlt". Bookplates with presentation to Cheltenham Public Library by Miss Carrington [1886]. *Revised & enlarged edition of this important historical work by Collenuccio, an early Italian humanist, first published in 1539 after his death.

Lyon: Iohnnes Clein, 1515. Hardcover. See Description. [c.1515]. 4to. pp. [280]. p.[280 blank]. Colophon dated "nono kale[n]das Octobris" (23 Sept.). Title page printed in red and black inside woodcut architectural border. Woodcut printer's device (Sylvestre 132). Printed in Roman font with the surrounding commentaries printed in Gothic. Text contains decorative initials. Bound in contemporary blind stamped paneled calf boards; re-backed preserving original spine. Later antique endpapers with inscription on front-free endpaper dated "1925"; front and rear blank fly-leaves worn. Pages are generally clean with occasional marginalia in an old hand (i.e. several small inscriptions written on the title page); minor spotting; lower corner of leaf c7 clipped in margin; The hinges and inner margins to the first gathering are neatly strengthened / repaired. The outer edges to this same gathering show some wear - i.e. a few marginal tears (sealed), and light soiling. The bottom margins… Read More

Paris: Robert Estienne, 1551 & Paris: [Robert Estienne], 1551., 1551. 4to. pp. 357, [3]; 3 p.l., 280, [10]index. Greek & Latin texts. woodcut devices on titles (Renouard 471 & 296). woodcut ornaments & initials. 18th century calf, rebacked, all edges gilt (binding worn but solid, crack in spine, occasional light embrowning & marginal stains). First Edition of the abridgment of Dio Cassius by the younger Joannes Xiphilinus, bound, possibly as issued, with Guillaume Leblanc’s Latin translation of same. Estienne’s name does not appear on the title-page to the second title. These works complement Estienne’s 1548 folio edition of Dio Cassius. Xiphilinus’ 11th century epitome of the roman history is the only source for Dio’s lost books 61 to 80 (see Schreiber). The first text is printed in the first font of the ‘grecs du roi’, and is based on a manuscript in the Royal Library. It is also one of the last Greek texts to carry Estienne’s Paris… Read More

Paris: [B. Prévost for] Jean de Roigny, 1552., 1552. folio. pp. 2 p.l., [3]-776, [38]index & colophon. numerous large criblé & smaller foliated initials. 145 woodcuts in the text measuring approximately 2 x 3". (including some repeats). 17th century sheep, rebacked with gilt spine mounted, corners renewed (some scarring to covers, occasional stains, dampstaining to some leaves in middle gatherings). First Thierry Edition, First Issue, with colophon dated November 1551 rather than January 1552. An important recension of the six comedies of Terence by Jean Thierry, incorporating the commentaries of sixteen leading Renaissance humanists, inlduding Erasmus, Dolet, Glareanus, Melanchchton, Bembo, &c. This edition is also notable for its one hundred and forty-five theatrical woodcuts (including repetitions), depicting an actor on a medieval stage surrounded by his audience, and actors against a background of stage draperies. According to Mortimer "the text, notes, and… Read More

Venetia: Simon Galignani. [Funeralia-Prima Edizione-Figurato] (cm.28) bella piena pergamena dell' epoca, titolo calligrafato al dorso.-- cc. 4 nn., pp. 109 + c. 1 nn. con il registro e la marca tipografica. Magnifico frontis figurato architettonico e 23 superbe incisioni in rame di Girolamo Porro Padovano, che fu uno dei migliori incisori che operarono in Venezia alla fine del XVI sec. Edizione originale di questo celebre figurato per la storia del costume e delle usanze. Assai pregievole per la ricca iconografia raffigurante i riti, spesso anche crudeli. Magnifico esemplare di grande conservazione assai marginoso e stampato in carta grave. * Lipperheide 101; * Hiler 718; * Mortimer 395; * Choix 5108; * Adams P 1903; * Bm. Stc. 534; * Cicognara 1766; * Brunet IV 820; * Graesse V 414.[f55] . molto buono. Rilegato. prima edizione. 1574.

Helmstadt, Frankfurt: Jacobus Lucius, Wolfgang Richter, 1584, 1605. Hardcover. Good. Printer's mark of goddess carrying torch and book. . Two Works in One Volume quarto vellum yapp edges (some old ink writing to cover and spine title faded) [20] leaves +268 leaves +[32] leaves of Appendix. The Second work lacks titlepage and first 3 prelim leaves (supplied in facsimile), original text here begins on p9 with the Preface thus 9-317pp +[26 of 31]pp of Index ending with letter T, lacking final 3 leaves. *History of the Crusades in Latin, followed by Melchior Goldast's collection of writers in Latin on the History of Suevia.

ANTUERPIAE: APUD IOANNEM BELLERUM SUB AQUILA AUREA. In 24. Dim. 13x8 cm. Pp. (36)+370+(24).Rarissima edizione senza data ma del 1580 della nota leggenda "Barlaam Iosaphat". Il racconto, attribuito a San Giovanni Damasceno (676-749) e popolarissimo in età medievale narra la conversione di Iosafat per merito del Santo eremita Barlaam. Sembra che la storia venne in realtà ricalcata sul modello della vicenda della conversione del Buddha. San Giovanni Damasceno venne dichiarato dottore della chiesa nel 1890. Opera redatta a cura di Georges Trapezuntius. Alla fine del volume la breve opera "De comparatione regis et monachi" di Giovanni Cristostomo a cura di Germain Brice. Antica firma al frontespizio e sottolineature all'interno. Bella legatura in piena pergamena coeva con titolo manoscritto al dorso. Rarissimo, solo sette copie censite su ICCU. Collazionato e risultato completo. Copertina in piena pergamena molle seicentesca con titolo manoscritto al dorso in buone… Read More

(Paris), Prelum Ascensii), 1520. (At the end: 'Impressa sum impensis & recognitione Iodoci Ascensii ad Idus Novemb. Anni Dominici 1520') Folio. (X),178 leaves. 19th century half calf. 30 cm (Ref: BP16_104596; Hoffman 1,412; Renouard 2,145/6; Moreau 1511-1520: 2246; Graesse 1,306; USTC no: 145192) (Details: Back gilt, with a red morocco letterpiece. Marbled paper on the boards. The architectural border on the title-page, filled with fable animals, encompasses the printer's device of Josse Badius (Jodocus Badius or Josse Bade), which features a printing press. A sign reads: 'Prelum Ascensianum', or 'Press of Asse', since Badius was from the Flemish village of Asse; on the press the date 1520. (BATYR, Base de Typographie de la Renaissance, n° 27498); the date, 1520, is repeated in the colophon on the last page. Woodcut initials) (Condition: Binding worn at the extremities. Front joint starting to crack. Old ownership inscription on the title. Paper of the right… Read More

VENETIIS: APUD JOANNEM BAPTISTAM SESSAM, 1591. In 4. Dim. 28x21,5 cm. Pp. (24)+180+(1)+68+(1). Rara opera del 1591 del giurista Roberto Maranta (1746-1530) nato a Venosa. Maranta si laureò a Napoli nel 102 e dedicò tutta la sua vita allo studio e pratica della legge. Lavorò e studiò a Salerno, Palermo e Napoli. L’opera sono una serie di consigli con risposta sulle materie giuridiche dell’alienazione e dei rimedi della possessione. Testo a doppia colonna e numerazione singola. In buone condizioni e completo. Belle vignette all'interno Copertina in piena pergamena coeva con titolo manoscritto al dorso in buone condizioni generali con lievi usure ai margini e dorso. Segni di tarlo (vedere foto). Legatura in buone condizioni. All'interno le pagine si presentano in buone condizioni con fioriture. Lievi gore d’umidità marginali. Parte mancante al frontespizio e alle pagine dalla 60 alla finale 68 con perdita di qualche porzione di lettera a pag.… Read More

Basle (Basileae), Eusebii Episcopii opera ac impensa, 1582. Folio. (XX),623,(12 index),(1 printer's mark) p. Modern calf 35.5 cm (Details: Nice copy, bound in modern full (red)brown calf, with 5 raised bands on the back. Spine short title in gilt: 'ARISTOTELIS / DE REPVBLICA'. Text in three columns, with the Greek in the centre flanked by the Latin translations of Piero Vettori and Denys Lambin respectively on each side. Large printer's woodcut device to the title and last page, depicting a bust of 'Hermes triceps' (three-headed Hermes) on a pillar; each of the heads wears a winged helmet; the middle Hermes holds in his right hand a caduceus, and in his left a bishop's staff (Episcopius!); from the pillar seems to hang a chopped off head. Large historiated woodcut letter on leaf a2, woodcut letters of various sizes throughout the text. Wide margins) (Condition: First and last leaf dust-soiled. Small and faint name on the title. Paper yellowing. Small bookplate on the… Read More

1576 Boemus Legles et Ritus Customs of Asia Africa India Persia China AmericaJohann Boemus was an early 16th-century German ethnographer who is chiefly remembered for his work 'Leges et Ritus', originally published in 1520. This work is an account of customs and laws of Africa, Asia, and Europe. This rare book includesa detailed history of Tartary including merchant and trade activityPersian soldiers – training and clothing"the strange ways" of IndiaLands that produce only white menConnections of law and cultureEditions subsequent to the 1542 edition include some of the first written observations of Americans, according to Sabin. This book was also important in that it was considered to have a direct influence on Sebastian Muenster's 'Cosmography'. (Lach, 336)Item number: #5517Price: $950BOEMUS, Johann Mores, leges et ritus omnium gentium, a Joanne Boëmo ... - ex multis clarissimis rerum scriptoribus collectiLugduni: apud Bartholomaeum Vincentium, 1576.Details: Collation: Complete with all pages… Read More

Coloniae: Apud Maternum Cholinum., 1587. Very Good, some staining to vellum, mostly to rear board, no blank front end page, toning to paste downs and end pages, small name in ink rear end page. Remarkably clean and tight in contemporary vellum binding, contents evenly toned. Paginated 1-320, and 371-425 pp, yet contents are consecutively numbered from p.320 to 371 and appear complete. SCARCE, especially so in such lovely condition. . First German Edition. Vellum. Very Good/No Jacket, As Issued. 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall.

ORIGIN OF THE MYTHMAKING OF THE ENGLISH REFORMATION.16mo. Bound in 20th century full calf; spine with 4 raised bands; red leather label with gilt letters on spine. Imprinted at London by John Tisdale, dwelling in Knight riders Streate. Anno 1560. Second Complete Edition. Two parts in one volume. The definitive edition of Bale's work. 56 leaves (112 pages) longer than the 1551 edition. STC 1274. Bale's Englysh votaryes established the received history of the English church and Reformation, including the notions that the English church was the purest of the early Christian churches, and that the entire history of England could be understood as s battle against the influence of the Roman Catholic Church. Bale's anti-Catholic chronicle, full of salacious accounts of medieval English clergy, had a decisive influence on John Foxe and his Book of Martyrs. "… Bale establish[ed] the myth of the pristine pre-Augustinian English Church, the golden age before 597, which was to be influential in Elizabethan… Read More

(Paris, Robert Estienne, 1544).. Two volumes, i.e. 2 parts only of 17: Part 5 and Part 17, 1544-1546. 16mo in eights, approximately 110 x 70 mm, 4¼ x 3 inches, Estienne's olive tree device on title pages, headpiece to title of first page of text in Volume Deuteronomium and to each book in Canticum, Hebrew text throughout apart from title pages where the Latin names of the books of the Bible are printed in roman type, collation: Deuteronomium P-Z8, AA-DD8, EE4 (EE4 blank),108 leaves; Canticum Canticorum A-M8, O8, N-P8, 120 leaves (P6-8 are blanks, signature O bound out of order). Bound in full vellum, hand written ink Latin titles on spines. Titles on spine mostly rubbed away, pale staining and slight wear to lower edges of covers of Deuteronomium, pale soiling to 8 pages at beginning of Canticum, bindings of both volumes slightly dusty, small closed tear to lower margin of Aiii, neatly repaired, not affecting text. Good copies, printed by Estienne who had been appointed the King's printer in Hebrew… Read More