XVIth Century Books

Zurich: Christoffel Froschouer 1st edition, 1556. Hardcover. Good. Woodcuts (104), many first used in the Schweizer-Chronik of 1548 with scenes of battles, sieges of cities, convocations, portraits &c. . Small folio (29.4 x 19.5mm) in sixes, 19th century half-calf with marbled boards, spine labels with gilt title in French and date 1556 (edges worn, labels chipped). Titlepage with woodcut printer's mark, 2 leaves (A2-A3) dedication & argument + CXXXVII leaves of German text, illustrated with woodcuts throughout. Lacks 7 preliminary leaves (Sources A4, Register B-B6) and one final blank leaf, otherwise collated complete. Title and the 2 preliminary leaves have small edge-tears and are re-hinged on newer paper stubs, text pages mostly clean and crisp with occasional small marks and light browning. Bookplates: "ex Libris Ludovic Blondin" and armorial "Friedemann Graf und Herr von Werthern". *Rare early Protestant treatise intended to show the harmful effects of Papacy, partly based on sources collected… Read More

Iunta [Junta]: Florence, Italy, 1522. In Latin. Thick volume in eighteenth century binding, quarter green calf ;eatjer over marbled boards, gilt spine lettering and decoration, 16 cm tall, (16), 776, (1) pages (388 numbered pages, with only the right-hand pages numbered), some inconsistent page numbers, but complete. Woodcut surrounds to title page, decorative initials on pages 130, 223 and 244, woodcut vignette on final page. Covers worn and scuffed, with some chipping to the extremities, old paper labels on spine with hand numbering, hinges internally cracked but covers well attached, text block sound, front free endpaper and first leaf detached but present, occasional light foxing, a few spots and minor insect damage to the first four leaves, minor dampstaining to the top margins of several pages near the end of the book, more extensive dampstaining to final leaf. Name of Charles O'Connor, Rome 1900, and one additional note on front pastedown.. Hard Cover. Good. 12mo - over 6¾" -… Read More

Ex officina Weidmanniana, 1739. Hardcover. See Description. 12mo. pp. [10] 348 [12]. Title printed in red and black. Crudely illustrated frontispiece. Annotated by Johann Minellii. This edition of Sallustius was probably meant for Latin students. The entire book is inter-leaved with blanks, presumably for note taking. Several blanks contain notes in a miniscule old hand. Bound in full vellum (darkened spine). [Schweiger II, p.881].

London: Henry Denham, 1571., 1571. 4to. ff. [12], 83. title within typographical border. woodcut ornaments & initials. 19th century blind-stamped old-style calf by Rivière, gilt edges (rubbed, short split in upper front joint, few minor stains, small repair to C1 - no loss). First Edition of the Latin Translation by Nicholas Carr [1524-1568], the second edition of Demosthenes to be published in England. The first English translation, by Thomas Wilson, was published by Denham in London the previous year. Appended are a life of Carr by Bartholomew Dodington, one of Carr's successors as regius professor of Greek at Trinity College, Cambridge, and eulogies and funeral orations by Henry Howard, Thomas Bing, Thomas Hatcher, and others. STC 6577. Bruggemann I p. 160.. 1st Edition. Hardcover.

Basel: In Officina Hervagiana [Per Ioannem Hervagium], 1539., 1539. 7 Parts in 1. folio. pp. 2 p.l., 63, [5]; 244; 243; 211; 91, [1]; [39], [1]; [96]. woodcut printer's device on first title, on title & at end of Book 5, on title & at end of the Chronologia, & at the end of the text. historiated woodcut initials. A nice copy, bound in 17th century speckled calf, paneled in gilt, rebacked, preserving endpapers & spine label, corners renewed (very occasional marginal stains). engraved armorial bookplate of Algernon Capell, [second] Earl of Essex, dated 1701, on title. A handsome folio edition, based on the Basel Froben editions of 1531 and 1535, the former being the first to incorporate the first five books of the Fifth Decade (Books 41-45), sourced from a manuscript discovered by German humanist Simon Grynaeus [1493-1541] in the Benedictine abbey of Lorsch in 1527. This edition reprints the 1531 dedicatory preface by Erasmus, and the improved chronology by Swiss humanist, Heinrich… Read More

Lugduni: Claudii Davost (Detroys) Expensis S. Vincentij - Pridie Kal. Martii. [Fig. postincunabolo-Medicina] (cm.18,5) buona piena pergamena dell' epoca con unghie e tracce di lacci.-- cc. 284 nn. (di cui due bianche), 41 linee, caratteri gotici, molti capilettera figurati. Nel testo 4 xilografie (ripetute) che rappresentano la decollazione di Saint Symphorien, e davanti Champier con la sua donna inginocchiati con le loro armi. Edizione originale veramente rara e molto bella. La dedica è datata V idus aprilis 1507. Manca ad Harvard, Waller, Choix e addirittura al Baudrier " Bibliogr. Lionnaise ". L' autore (1472-1539) fu un grande filosofo e medico e pubblicò molte opere, fra le quali la celebre: " De Quadruplici Vita " del 1507. Vedi la lunga descrizione in Brunet e Graesse; Per notizie biografiche vedi Hirsch I 700. La sezione medica contiene: " Vocabulorum Medicinalium " e " Liber Quartus Ethymologiarum.qui est de medicina ". In fine un… Read More

Paris (Lutetiae): Robertus Stephanus Cum privilegio Regis, 1551. Hardcover. Very Good. Nice Estienne printer's device on titlepage of basilisk wound round vine and floral headpiece and initial on first page of life of Pompey the Great.. Small quarto (23.5x14mm) half 19th century morocco on 5 bands gilt ruled with Greek title and brown marbled boards, marbled endpapers with neat Greek Athens bookseller's label, 357pp +[3]pp Variae Lectiones & Errata. Beautifully clean and crisp, handsome Greek typography. *Editio princeps of the epitome of Dio's Roman history, abridged in the 11th century by Joannes Xiphilinus, the only source for Dio's lost books 61-80, dealing with events from 47 B.C. to 235 A.D. Robert Estienne issued this epitome to compliment his folio edition of Dio Cassius of 1548. Printed in the gros-romain font of the "grecs du roi", cut by Claude Garamond.

Venice: Giunta (colophon: in officina haeredum Lucaeantonii Iunctae), 1563. Leather. Very Good. Folio (38 cm); [2], 152, 12 leaves. Text in two columns, printed in red and black ink. Printer's device in red on title page (Camerini, I, 143, third variant). About 99 woodcut illustrations in text (some repeated), including full-page crucifixion, repeated seven times, and 10-panel historiated woodcut border to facing page, also repeated seven times. Rotunda, roman, and italic type. Music with notes in black on red staves. Bound in paneled calf, roughly contemporary, ruled in gilt with gilt fleurs-de-lis at corners. Binding worn with signs of old repairs. Text toned on some leaves, but remarkably fresh and free of blemishes overall. References: Mortimer, Italian, 304; Amiet, Repertorium, 2:101; Camerini, 673; RELICS, 2859. In the 1560s, the brothers Tommaso and Giovan Maria Giunta were trying to recover financially from the fire that destroyed their Venice workshop in 1557. Taking few… Read More

Frankfurt: Andreas Wechel first edition, 1578. Hardcover. Very Good. Printer's mark of flying horse over cornucopia & hand from cloud holding caduceus to titlepage + same printer's mark slightly larger to verso of last leaf + floral, foliate & historiated head- & tail-piece & initials.. Folio handsome 18th century gilt ruled and sprinkled calf with 6 raised bands, the compartments & bands gilt but without a title on the spine (small chip out of head of spine/edges sl.rubbed). All edges sprinkled with red dye [8]pp prelims + 320pp + [28]pp index, publisher's imprint and large Wechel printer's mark. Some marginal damp marks to top corner but not affecting the strength and crispness of the paper nor the text. Name Fletcher to top of titlepage. A very few notes or marks to margin. *History of Louis XI & Charles VIII by de Commynes, shortened history of memorable events by Froissart and a further work, by de Seissel. Scarce volume of Medieval French history OCLC locates only 6 copies.

Venice (Venetiis), Apud Hieronymum Scotum, 1545. 223,(1 blank) leaves. Limp overlapping vellum. 16 cm (Ref: Edit16 CNCE 16736; Hoffmann 1,528) (Details: Latin translation only. 5 thongs laced through the joints. Woodcut printer's mark on the title and the verso of the last leaf blank, depicting a branch of olive and a palm tree, graft onto trunk, with between them an anchor; anchor and trunk are held together bij the initials SOS (Signum Octaviani Scoti); a banner runs around with the motto: 'In tenebris fulget'. Printed in italis, except for the title. Some historiated and ornamental woodcut initials) (Condition: Vellum age-tanned and slightly soiled. 2 tiny holes in both boards, because of the 2 ties which have disappeared) (Note: In the preface of this book the learned anonymous translator explains his readers that it was his aim to collect for those who are not able to read Greek (qui graeca non legerant) in one volume (in unum eundemque codicem ac seorsum ab reliquis) five speeches,… Read More

Lipsiae [Leipzig], 1586. Reprint . Hardcover. Near Fine. Publication date "M. D. XXCVI." Professionally rebound in brown boards with the spine stamped in black. Text block is browned and appears cut-down slightly from original size. Unmarked. Text is in Latin. A Very pretty copy. 134 p. plus 5 more printed pages and two blank leaves. 3 5/8 x 5 15/16 inches. I believe that this book was rebound in the early twentieth century. See Pictures.

1565. Frankfurt, 1565. 3rd ed with 6 plates by Amman. Frankfurt, 1565. 3rd ed with 6 plates by Amman. Well-Illustrated Digest of the Military Law and Practice of the Holy Roman Empire Fronsberger, Leonhardt. [Amman, Jost (1539-1591), Illustrations]. Von Kayserlichem Krieg rechten, Malefitz und Schuldhandlen, Ordnung und Regiment: Samt Derselbigen unnd Andern hoch oder Niderigen Beuelch, Bestallung, Staht und Empter, Zu Rossz und Fu , An Geschutz und Munition, In Zug und Schlachtordnung, Zu Feld, Berg, Thal, Wasser und Land, Vor oder in Besatzungen, Gegen oder von Feinden Furzunemen, Welcher Art Sitten Herkommen und Gebrauch, Under und bey Regierung de Allerdurchleuchtigstenm Gro machttigsten, Unuberwindlichsten, Und Krieg erfahrnen berumptisten Romischen Keysers Caroli de Funfften, Hochloblichster unseligster Gedechtni , Geubt Ungebraucht, In Zehen Bucher Abgetheilt, Vergleichen nie is Gesehen Worden, Von Neuwen Beschrieben und antag Geben durch Leonhardt Fronsperger. Mit Schonen Neuwen Figuren und… Read More

Paris: Denys Ianot, [Janot], 1540. First Edition. Transl. from Spanish by "le Seigneur des Essarts", Nicolas de Herberay. (1540)-1542, 3 parts in 1 vol. 150; (4), 86; (3), 94 leaves., repeated woodcut printer's mark on 2 title-pages, 43 (some repeated) woodcut illustrations within borders. 65 historiated/ decorated initials (including Janot's white alphabet with thistle especially designed for the Amadis), 18th century calf with gilt spine and two contrasting leather labels. folio. - First part lacks the first two preliminary leaves (incl. title) So begins at aiii); Remaining prelims one leaf with tear in text and one leaf lacks upper outer blank corner; first part partly wormholed in lower margin; title-page. to second part some soiling and old owner's entries; title-page. to third part slightly. dust stained; lower corner of final three leaves of third part restored and small inkstain in outer margin; All three parts occasionally. finger soiled / stained; engraved heraldic bookplate of Ham Court… Read More

8° (mm 153x104); cc. (46). Al frontespizio, bellissima silografia raffigurante un erudito nel suo studiolo. Testo in carattere romano, diposto su due colonne. Piccoli capilettera silografici. Marocchino nero giansenista: titolo al dorso, dentelles interne e taglî in oro. Copia molto bella.Extremely rare Italian version - probably based on the first Italian translation of the previous year (Venice, Zorzi di Rusconi, 1514) - of this famous novel, one of the masterpieces of early Spanish literature. Rarissimo volgarizzamento – verosimilmente coniato sulla prima traduzione italiana dell'anno precedente (Venezia, Zorzi di Rusconi, 1514) – "di questo celebre romanzo, tra i capolavori della letteratura spagnola; e pubblicato per la prima volta a Siviglia nel 1492. Esso apre l'interpretazione delle posteriori raffigurazioni letterarie in materia d'amore: influì sulla Celestina, sull'Amadigi di Gaula, sulla Diana, sulla Galatea e sugli episodi sentimentali del Don Chisciotte" (C.A. Chiesa, Libri… Read More

London: Printed...at the costes and charges of John Cawod, John Waly, and Richarde Tottell, 1557. BEDFORD, Francis. . The workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght. sometyme Lorde Chauncellour of England, wrytten by him in the Englysh tonge. London: Printed...at the costes and charges of John Cawod, John Waly, and Richarde Tottell, 1557. First edition of the collected works in English, edited by More's nephew, William Rastell who arranged the material in chronological order and added marginal notes. This copy with the words "Printed at" in the first line of the imprint. Small folio (10 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches; 261 x 186 mm). Collates complete: [18 leaves of preliminaries, including the title and blank leaf], 1458, [lacking final blank]. Collation as in Pforzheimer, including the inserted leaf between CC5 & 6. Black letter, double columns. Title within woodcut border (McKerrow and Ferguson 81), decorative and historiated woodcut initials. Handsomely bound in a late 18th century full calf binding. Boards ruled in… Read More