1
JEFFREY D. MANCEVICE, INC.
P.O. Box 20413, West Side Station
Worcester, MA 01602
Phone: (508) 755-7421
FAX: (508) 753-2317
E-mail:[email protected]
JULY LIST 2013 33 RECENT ACQUISITIONS OF EARLY PRINTING
INCLUDING: INCUNABULA, SCIENCE, ART, HISTORY,
ILLUSTRATED, HUMANIST STUDIES, CHEMISTRY-ALCHEMY,
FABLES, NEOLATIN LIT., ASTRONOMY, EMBLEMS, etc.
WOODCUTS BY BERNARD SALOMON
1. AESOP; CAMERARIUS, Joachim (trans.). Fabulae Aesopicae, plures quingentu, & aliae quaedam narrationes,
cum historia vitae fortunaeq; Aesopi, compositae studio & diligentia I.C.P. [i.e. Ioachimi Camerarii Pabergonsis]
Quibus additae sunt & Liuianae & Gellianae ac aliorum quaedam cum interpretatione Graecorum, & explicatione
quorundam aliorum. Lyon: Jean De Tournes, 1579. 16mo. 637, [19] pp. (last p. blank). Latin, some passages in
Greek. Woodcut medallion portrait of Aesop on title and 61 text woodcuts attributed to Bernard Salomon; small
owner's inscription on title; top margins a bit short with running heading cropped on some leaves toward the end;
engraved armorial book plate dated 1721, 1722 (rubbed). 17th century calf, gilt spine (neat repairs to head and tail of
spine).
$2250
Scarce edition of fables by Aesop, and others, illustrated with sixty-one very fine woodcuts by Bernard Salomon
(a.k.a. le Petit Bernard), the master book illustrator who worked in Lyon in the latter half of the 16th century. The
translation from the Greek is by Joachim Camerarius (1500-1574), one of the most eminent German scholars of his
time. Since these editions of Aesop were intended for a young audience all early editions, especially illustrated
examples, are scarce.
§ Cartier, De Tournes no. 592; Brunet I, 85; cf. Mortimer, French, no. 7 (1570 ed.).
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CHRONICLE OF BOLOGNA
2. ALBERTI, Leandro. Libro primo (a dieci) della deca prima delle historie di Bologna [BOUND WITH] libro
primo della deca secunda. Bologna: Per Bartholomeo Bonardo e Marc Antonio Grossi, 1541- 43 [1544?: last part].
4to, 11 parts in 1 volume; parts 1-10 [424] pp. with, [1], 26 leaves. with 6 repeated woodcut title-borders and 6 (4
repeats) full-age woodcuts on verso of title-pages. Early repair to tear in leaf "FF1" with about a dozen words
supplied in neat early manuscript; few neat tear repairs; some minor spotting. Contemporary limp vellum.
$1950
FIRST EDITION of this important chronicle of the author's hometown of Bologna, in ten parts, which covers the
period up to 1247. Bound at the end is the separately published eleventh fascicle, the last published by the author,
which brings the chronicle up to 1253. Parts one to five have special title-pages with woodcut borders and full-page
woodcut of "Virtus" holding a sign of letterpress (the first is a dedication to the jurist Andrea Alciati). The
supplementary part has the same woodcut border but with a full-page view of Bologna on the verso and the motto
"Bononia Mater Studiorum" in a ribbon above the city.
Leandro Alberti (1479–1552) was an Italian Dominican historian: "Alberti was born and died at Bologna. In his
early youth he attracted the attention of the Bolognese rhetorician, Giovanni Garzoni, who volunteered to act as his
tutor. He entered the Dominican Order in 1493, and after the completion of his philosophical and theological studies
was called to Rome by his friend, the Master General, Francesco Silvestri. He served him as secretary and socius
until the death of Silvestri in 1528. In 1517, he published in six books a treatise on the famous men of his Order.
This work has gone through countless editions ... a history of the Madonna di San Luca and the adjoining monastery,
he published (Bologna, 1543) a chronicle of his native city (Istoria di Bologna, etc.) to 1273. It was continued by
Lucio Caccianemici to 1279. ... He was a close friend of most of the contemporary literati, who frequently
consulted him. He often mentioned in the letters of the poet Giannantius Flamino, who dedicated the tenth book of
his poems to the friar"(Cath. Enc.). The two short additions by Caccianemici were published over forty-four years
later (1588-92) and are separate publications.
The copies located in the OCLC only note the first ten parts and no copies of the eleventh part which is present
here.
§ IA 102.336 & 102.337; EDIT 16 CNCE 683 & 684; Adams A-480 & 480A; BM/STC Italian, p. 14; Sander
171.
MEDICI WEDDING POEM / HEBER COPY
3. ANGELI, Pietro. Epithalamium in nuptias Francisci Medicis Florentinor. & Senens. Principis, et Ioannae
Austriacae Reginae sereniss. Ferdinandi F. Imperatoris. Florence: In officina Iuntarum Bernardi F, 1566. 4to, 20
pp. With Medici woodcut arms on title-page; damp mark in text; title a little dusty; Heber copy with "Bibiotheca
Heberiana" on front flyleaf; faint collection stamp on verso of title-page and book plate. Contemporary vellum over
boards.
$1500
"FIRST EDITION of this wedding poem celebrating the marriage of Joan of Austria, daughter of Emperor
Ferdinand I, to Francesco de' Medici, a suspicious false and despotic character, who had been partly brought up in
Spain (his mother was Eleanora of Toledo). During his reign Florence was permeated by an atmosphere of adultery,
violence and pecuniary corruption. He reaped the reward of his vassal-like attitude by obtaining from Emperor
Maximilian II the recognition of the Grand-ducal title (which had been granted to his father by Pope Pius V).
Francesco's passion for the Venetian runaway Bianca Cappello, and his mean and heartless treatment of his Austrian
wife, disgusted the people of Florence and the Court of Vienna. Nor did his marriage with Bianca immediately after
his wife's death improve the situation.
"Pietro Angelio, a native of Barga, first studied law at Bologna, where he continued his studies with the classical
scholar Romolo Amaseo. Because of a love affair he had to leave the city and found refuge in Venice. Here he
became a friend of Pietro Aretino and entered the services of Antonio Polin, ambassador to the French king in
Venice, whom he accompanied to Constantinople on a diplomatic mission. After his return he held a public office in
his native city and later obtained the chair of Latin and Greek first at Reggio Emilia and then a Pisa. During this
period of his life many of the great humanist were his friends, among them Pietro Vettori, Benedetto Varchi,
Giovanni della Case. He was also temporarily employed at the Medici court and especially by cardinal Ferdinando
de' Medici. With Sperone Speroni, Flminio de' Nobili, Cuzio Gonzaga and Silvio Antoniona, Angelio collaborated
on the revision of Tasso's Gerusalemme Liberata. He resumed teaching at Pisa in his last years. Angelio is
especially remembered for a poem on hunting (1561) and the epic poem Syrias (1591) (cf. G. Manarcorda, Petrus
Angelius Bargaeus, in "Annali della Reale Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, XVIII, 1903, pp. 1-131)" (Ermann,
My Gracious Silence, women in the mirror of 16th century printing in Western Europe, no. 21)
From the collection of the famous English bibliophile, Richard Heber (1774–1833
§ BM/STC Italian p. 29. EDIT 16 CNCE 1787; IA 105.677; Erdmann, A. My gracious silence, no. 21; Camerini,
Giunti, I, no 371.
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PRINTED IN RED & BLACK WITHIN WOODCUT BORDERS THROUGHOUT / PRINTED BY
YOLANDE BONHOMME / "Bella ediciò, molta rara"
4. BENEDICT, Saint, of Nursia; DUNSTAN, Saint. Regula b. patris Benedicti a b. Dunstano dilige[n]ter recognita,
cum plusculis alijs a tergo huius explicandis. Paris: [Yolande Bonhomme], 1544. 16mo, [160] pp. With metal cut
printer's device of Thielman Kerver (Renouard no. 505) on title which is also printed within four piece woodcut
border and numerous metal cut initials; the text is completely printed throughout within varying woodcut four-piece
borders; title and chapter headings printed in red and black throughout the volume as well as first capital letter to
each paragraph; leaf [7] verso and leaf [8] recto of prelims are blank with a woodcut of crossed papal keys with a
vertical sword printed within borders; the recto of last leaf blank with large woodcut arms on verso which is printed
within woodcut border; black letter; some minor glue adhesion slightly affecting inner border; Bookplate André Le
Glay. 19th century brown morocco.
$4500
Very rare edition of the ‘Rule of Saint Benedict’ of Nursia which is here revised by the English Benedictine
Saint Dunstan (c. 909-988), Archbishop of Canterbury and one of the greatest saints of the Anglo-Saxon Church.
Saint Dunstan published a uniform rule for the monasteries of England in which he adopted, in great measure, the
rule of St. Benedict and joins to it many ancient monastic customs.
Benedict of Nursia (c. 480 – 543 or 547), the founder of western monasticism, is a Christian saint honored by
both the Anglican and the Catholic Church as the patron saint of Europe and students. His main achievement was in
providing the handbook for those who would wish to live the monastic life. Its unique spirit of balance, moderation
and reasonableness would persuade most religious communities founded throughout the Middle Ages to adopt it.
The wisdom dispensed in the seventy-three short chapters that comprises the Rule is in two kinds; spiritual (how to
live a Christocentric life on earth) and administrative (how to run a monastery efficiently). In the present work the
Benedict-Dunstan rules end on leaf H2 recto; followed by twenty-five pages of additional information and
references to canon law and extrapolations on the rules for running the various types of religious communities and
organizations.
The printer was Yoland Bohomme, the widow of Thielman Kerver, who carried on the printing business after
her husband’s death in 1522 until her own passing in 1557. Renouard notes in his Les Marques Typographiques
Parisiennes des xv et xvie siecles that she continued to use her husband’s unicorn devices on her own published
works throughout printing career and he in fact uses the present work as his example the device used here (no. 505).
Regarding women printers see: Susan Broomhall, Women and the Book Trade in Sixteenth-Century France (p. 52,
56). Yolande specialized in illustrated religious texts; see Erdmann's My Gracious Silence (pp. 249-251.) which has
an extensive listing of her publications but was unaware of the present very rare work.
A very good and complete copy with both full-page woodcuts (within woodcut borders) that appear on the
versos of the last leaf of prelims (leaf 8) and the last leaf in the volume (leaf 80); the first is of crossed keys with
vertical sword; the second is a woodcut arms with xylographic motto below; both have blank rectos. One or both of
these leaves appear to be lacking the handful of surviving copies located.
The OCLC locates only one copy at Saint Johns University (MN) which has only 156 pages (presumably lacking
the non-text illustrated leaves 8 and 80). The KVK locates at copy at Alte Bibliothek der Abtei Ottobeuren with just
79 leaves (probably lacking the last leaf); Die Österreichischen Landesbibliotheken and the British Library (neither
with foliation provided).
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§ BM/STC, French, Suppl., p. 8; Albareda 67 "Bella ediciò, molta rara."; not in IA or Adams; not in the list of
Yolande's publications supplied list of publications in Erdmann's My Gracious Silence, Women in the mirror of 16th
century printing in Western Europe.
MAGNIFICIENT ETCHINGS OF BOLOGNA STREET LIFE
5. CARRACCI, Annibale. Le arti di Bologna disegnate da Annibale Caracci ed intagliate da Simone Guilini coll'
assistenza di Alessandro Algardi, aggiuntavi la vita del sudetto Annibale Caracci; dedicate all'illl~mo. signore, il
signor marchese Giambattista Piccaluga. Rome: Apresso Gregorio Roisecco, 1740. Folio, 8 pp., [1] leaf, with
etched portrait (dated 1646) and 80 numbered etchings after Annibale Carracci. Book plate of Robert Schneider;
very attractive, uncut copy with very wide margins and excellent plate impressions. Half vellum c. 1900.
$6500
A series of engravings of street vendors, tradesmen and laborers,
which is probably the most influential of all such series in European
art. These figures were drawn by Annibale Carracci (1560-1609) and
bound in an album which for a while was the property of the Carracci
and used as an important tool for teaching in their Accademia degli
Incamminati. The album would subsequently change hands several
times, passing eventually into the possession of G.A. Massani,
Maesto di Casa to Pope Urban VIII, who arranged to have the
drawings reproduced in etchings by Simon Guillain (1618-1658?) in
1646 with the assistance of Alessandro Algardi (1598-1654).
The present copy is a fine uncut copy of the second edition of
these magnificent etchings depicting all manners of vendors and
street people to be found in Bologna; including bakers, beggars, print
and book sellers, scissors grinder, street musicians, fowler, dentist
and "un putto, che urina", etc. A short biography of Annibale has
been added to this edition with a dedication to the Marchese
Giambattista Piccaluga.
In the first edition of 1646 the plates appeared in two issues; the
first issue of the suite was accompanied by a 22-page preface by
Massini, narrating the history of the album; the second issue
consisting of just title, two leaves of letterpress (without the history)
and with the plates reordered in a different series with the older
numbers burnished out. The present second edition would then be the
third issue of the plates. The last issue appeared at Rome in 1776.
§ Lipperheide Jba 15; Beall, Kaufrufe und Strassenhändler, I 2;
Cicognara, 1614; Colas, Costume, 538 ; D. Mahon, Studies in
Seicento Art and Theory, pp. 233-40.
WITH 32 ETCHINGS BY FRANCESCO VALESIO
6. CAVACIO, Giacomo. Illustrium anachoretarum elogia sive religiosi viri musaeum. Venice: Typographia
Pinelliana, 1625. 4to, [8] leaves (2nd leaf blank), 157, [8] pp. With engraved title, 2 full-page engraved plates in
prelims and 30 numbered full-paged text engravings (for a total of 33 including title-page); woodcut historiated
initials and woodcut tailpieces; small adhesion spot to inner margin of 2nd prelim. plate (slightly affecting some
image along inner margin at one place); otherwise a fine fresh copy Contemporary limp vellum.
$2650
A new edition of this history of the saints, first published in 1612, which is edited here
by Lorenzo Pignoria (1571-1631) with a new preface (dated 9 Oct. 1623), following the
original by Giacomo Cavacci (1567-1612) who was a monk at the Benedictine monastery
of Sancta Giustina di Padova (Padua).
The fine engraved title-page includes a small view of Montecassino, the full-page
engraving at the end of the preliminaries is a beautiful view of Bassano del Grappa. The
remaining engravings depict various saints set within richly, detailed landscapes and
involved in various activities (usually involving reading and/or praying). Cicognara notes
Valesio's etchings are in the Flemish style and are similar to Sadeler’s Solitudo, sive vitae
Patrum Eremicorlarum.
Francesco Valesio "who was born at Bologna in 1560, is mentioned by Florent le
Comte as both painter and engraver; he has left several plates from his own compositions,
as well as frontispieces and other book-ornaments. His most important work, however, is
a set of Hermits, engraved for the 'Illustrium Anachoretorum Elogia,' [the present work]
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written by Jacobus Cavacius, a Benedictine monk" (Bryan's Dict. of Painters and Engravers, V, p. 229).
Fine copy of this beautiful series of etchings appearing here in fine dark impressions. The work was printed on a
very high quality paper.
§ Univ. Cat. of Books on Art, I, p. 251; cf. Cicognara 2007 & Thieme-Becker XXXIV, 71 (1st ed.).
CONSTRUCTING ACCURATE PORTABLE SUNDIALS
7. CLAVIUS, Christoph S.J. Fabrica et usus instrumenti ad horologiorum descriptionem peropportuni. Accessit
ratio describendarum horarum a meridie & media nocte exquisitissima, & nunquam ante hac in lucem edita. Rome:
(Giacomo Ruffinelli for) Bartolomeo Grassi, 1586. 4to, [6] (4 pp. of prelims misbound at end), 3-151, [1] pp.
(dedication & index misbound at end). Woodcut Jesuit device on title-page and smaller version on colophon;
numerous text woodcuts (4 full-page) and diagrams; tables; collection stamp, stamped over in blank margin of title-
page. Old vellum over boards.
$3450
FIRST EDITION of this treatise on the fabrication along with the accurate
calibration and use of a new type of sundial written by one of the most important
mathematicians of the period; the German Jesuit mathematician and astronomer,
Christopher Clavius (Clau: 1537-1612), who published many influential works
on mathematics, instruments, and astronomy: "the man who did the most of all
the German scholars of the 16th century to extend the knowledge of
mathematics'" (Smith, History of Math. I, p. 334). Clavius had already written a
work on the use of various types of sundials in (Gnomonices Libri Octo. Rome:
1581). In the present work he describes a new very elaborate, portable sundial
(illustrated on four full-page woodcuts) which could have its declination and
hour angle (hour lines) adjusted due to changes of longitude and includes the use
of two magnetic compasses for orientation. Clavius supplies the astronomical
observations and related mathematical calculations, with tables included, to aid
in the marking of the dials. The dedication is addressed to Cardinal Prince
András Báthory (1566-1599), prince of Transylvania and nephew of István
Báthory, king of Poland.
"Christoph Clau, mathematician and astronomer, whose most important
achievement related to the reform of the calendar under Gregory XIII; born at
Bamberg, Bavaria, 1538; died at Rome, 12 February, 1612. The German form of
his name was Latinized into "Clavius". He entered the Society of Jesus in 1555
and his especial talent for mathematical research showed itself even in his
preliminary studies at Coimbra. Called to Rome by his superiors as teacher of
this branch of science at the well-known Collegium Romanum, he was engaged
uninterruptedly there until his death. The greatest scholars of his time, such men
as Tycho Brahe, Johann Kepler, Galileo Galilei, and Giovanni Antonio Magini, esteemed him highly. He was called
the 'Euclid of the sixteenth century'; and even his scientific opponents, like Scaliger, said openly that they would
rather be censured by a Clavius than praised by another man. ... The chief merit of Clavius, however, lies in the
profound exposition and masterly defense of the Gregorian calendar reform, the execution and final victory of which
are due chiefly to him" (New Catholic Enc.).
§ Adams C-2097; EDIT 16, CNCE 12677; Houzeau & Lancaster, 11385; BM/STC Italian, p. 186; DeBacker-
Sommervogel II, 1216, no. 6.
“FIRST ILLUSTRATIONS EVER TO BE USED EXPRESSLY FOR CHILDREN”
8. ESTIENNE, Charles; BAIF, Lazare de. De Re vestiaria, vascularia et navali, ex Bayfio, in adolescentulorum
bonarum literarum studiosorum gratiam. Paris: Ch. Estienne, 1553. 8vo, 189, [27] pp. (last page blank). Estienne
woodcut device on title-page (Schreiber device 8); with 8 text woodcuts in third part; italic type; the front end papers
foxed but not affecting the work itself; light toning to title; with Earls of Macclesfield "North Library" armorial
bookplate with accession number on plate and penciled on fly leaf. 18th century English speckled calf with gilt
spine, double gilt fillet frame on covers with flower ornament in each corner.
$1650
"FIRST COLLECTED EDITION of the three children's books by Charles Estienne on Lazare de Baif's studies
of Roman antiquities ... De re navali contains eight woodcuts which are considered the first illustrations ever to be
used ever to be used expressly for children. These originally appeared in the very rare edition of 1537, but was
suppressed from most later editions of De re navali. The present collected edition is one of the few editions to retain
these woodcuts" (Scheiber).
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This series of three children's texts were originally published
separately by Charles' brother, Robert. Charles has included a
general index in Latin, Greek and French. These books were unique
in that they were the first texts produced specifically for the
entertainment of children (see A. Horodisch, "Die Geburt eines
Kinderbuches im 16. Jahrhundert." 1960, 211-22). "These may be
regarded as the first children's books. i.e. the first books produced
specifically for the entertainment (unlike schoolbooks) as well as
the edification of a juvenal readership--as the last five words of the
title clearly state" (Schreiber pp. 50-51).
As already noted the third text deals with the ships of the
ancient Romans; the first work treats the clothing of the ancient
Romans, including a section on carpets and the colors of various
fabrics and clothes; the second deals with Roman vessels,
containers, dishes, vases, etc.
Our copy is also of the same early issue as the Schreiber copy with the "LUTETIAE" in the imprint is misprinted
as "LUTEVIAE."
§ Renouard, 106, no. 19; Adams, B-47; Schreiber, Estienne, no. 132.
“ONE OF THE SMALLEST PRODUCED BY HENRI ESTIENNE”
9. ESTIENNE, Henri (ed. & transl.). Comicorum Graecorum Sententiae, ... Latinis versibus ab Henr. Stephano
redditae & annotationibus illustratae ; eiusdem Henrici Stephani tetrastichon de his sententiis. [Geneva]: Henri
Estienne, 1569. 32mo (page size 4 1/2 x 2 ": 11.5 x 4.5 cm.), [16], 633 (i.e. 635), [3] pp, (leaves a1 & rr8 are
blanks). Text in Greek and Latin; decorative headpieces; early inscription crossed out on title-page; very nice copy.
Contemporary vellum.
$850
FIRST EDITION of this "collection of aphorisms and proverbs from the Greek comic writers (Menander and
other writers of New Comedy), selected, translated and annotated by Henri Estienne, who has also added a
dissertation on the method of selection of literary proverbs (De havendo sententiarum delectu). A second part
contains proverbial expressions derived from Roman comic writers, as well as selected Sententiae from Publilius
Syrus, with annotations by Erasmus. These sorts of compilations were very popular in their day ... Estienne has left
some pages entirely blank ... to allow the reader (as he says on pp. 416-17), to add such sententiae as he may
discover in his readings. This booklet is one of the smallest produced by Henri Estienne" (Schreiber).
Estienne, who had recently lost the financial backing of the Fuggers, dedicated the present work to Duke
Christoph of Bavaria. A very nice copy in its original vellum binding (front paste-down has lifted making visible
strips of medieval vellum manuscript used in sewing the gatherings).
§ Renouard 123, no. 3; Moeckli 71; Schreiber, Estiennes, no. 175.
FINELY ILLUSTRATED BAROQUE EMBLEM BOOK
10. FÜESSLIN, Casimirus. Theatrum gloriae sanctorum erectum à venerando Casimiro Füesslin Ord. S. Francisci
FF. Recollectorum Provinciae Argentinae. Anno Domini M. DC. LXXXXVI. Hoc est, Conciones in festa occurrentia
per annum, ex sacris paginis, ss. patribus, aliisque probatis authoribus summo studio & labore concinnatae in usum
Verbi Dei praeconum. Sulzbach: Sumptibus Joannis Christophori Lochner, 1696. 4to,
[18], 500 (i.e. 498), [24] pp. (including errata leaf at end). Gathering G misbound; title
printed in red and black; with additional etched title by E. Nunzer after S. Arnold,
engraved portrait, and 50 large etched emblems; some light browning and foxing typical
of German books of this period; tiny damp mark in outer blank margins of some leaves
toward end; contemporary ownership inscription of the cloister at Rattenberg; generally
nice copy. Contemporary blind stamped pigskin with two brass clasps.
$1850
FIRST EDITION of this emblem work illustrated with fifty charmingly etched
emblems and a lovely festive etched title-page: "The illustrations apply to sermons
arranged according to the festivals of the Church Year" (Landwehr). Included is a
portrait of Lotharius Franciscus, archbishop of Mainz, to whom the work is dedicated. The emblems, which appear
in a fine dark impressions, include two Latin mottoes, within very ornate cartouches by Baner. Also included in the
present copy is the often lacking errata leaf that appears here at the end. Christian martyrs in Japan are mentioned on
page 99; mention of America on page 437.
Overall a handsome copy of this scarce German baroque emblem book in its original blind tooled pigskin and
with both brass clasps present.
§ Landwehr, German Emblems, no. 300; Praz p. 343.
7
PRINTED WITHIN WOODCUT BORDERS THROUGHOUT WITH 204 WHITE ON BLACK WOODCUT
PORTRAITS
11. FULVIUS, Andreas. Illustriu[m] Ymagines. Lyon: A. Blanchard, for J. Monsnier and F. Juste, Sept. 2, 1524. Very
small 4to (or 8vo. gathered in 4's -see below), 116 leaves. Juste's shield device (variant of Silvestre 210) in red and
black on the title-page, set into a tablet in the lower part of a woodcut border with grotesques; xylographic title
printed in red on a band set into a circle in the upper part of the border; this border repeated on verso of last leaf and
is one of 11 woodcut borders used to enclose the text and a series of white on black portraits throughout the volume;
italic text; few tiny worm holes in first 6 leaves; Modern boards (spine label chipped).
$1850
Second edition (1st. Rome: 1517) but with new woodcuts of this beautifully illustrated work depicting the
Caesars and their families (including Julius and Cleopatra) based on ancient coins and medals. Mortimer notes:
"Each border resembles an antique monument with text set in the position of a carved inscription and a woodcut
medallion portrait placed in the circle above. There are two hundred four portraits, 1 1/8" to 1 9/10" in diameter, in
white on black ground. The borders and portraits are copies of those used by the publisher Jacopo Mazzocchi in the
first edition, Rome, 1517. The borders are reduced considerably, the portraits only slightly. The portraits were
designed for the Italian edition from coins and medals collected by Mazzocchi. The space for the portrait of
'Cossvtia vxor Caesaris' was left blank in the Rome edition and is filled in this edition (leaf D2r) by a repetition ...
The Fulvio portraits were copied for the Imperatorum romanorum libellus of Johann Huttich ... The use of the ornate
border for the title is new to this second edition; ... According to Lacroix (Juste, p. 68, 71), Juste was not established
as a publisher until 1532 and should be considered an editor at this time. The wording of the colophon and the use of
his device on the title-page would seem to identify this as his first publishing venture, however isolated from his
active period as publisher" (Mortimer, French 16th century books).
Regarding the curious format Mortimer notes that the edition "follows the Italian printing as an octavo gathered
in 4's. this is probably half-sheet imposition necessitated by a limited number of blocks for printing the elaborate
borders.".
§ Mortimer, French, no. 274 (title & text leaf illus); Brunet II, 1423; Baudrier, V, p. 96 (colophon incorrectly
recorded as 1523); Murray, French I, 182 (title illus.); Brun, p. 211.
ONE OF THE EARLIEST PRINTED COLLECTIONS OF RIDDLES &
THE SYMBOLISM OF PYTHAGORAS
12. GIRALDI, Lilio Gregorio. Libelli duo, in quorum altero Aenigmata pleraque antiquorum, in altero Pythagorae
symbola, non paulo quam hactenus ab aliis, clarius faciliusque sunt explicata: nunquam antea in lucem editi
[Pythagorica praecepta mystica a Plutarcho interpretata]. Accesserunt eiusdem Lilii, et alii duo libelli adversus
ingratos et quomodo quis ingrati nomen et crimen effugere possit. Basel: per Joannem Oporinum, (1551). 8vo, 313,
[31] pp. Errata: p. [314]. Contemporary ownership inscription on title-page; italic type; Greek excepts; pencil
underling; printer's name lightly crossed out on colophon leaf (still visible); some light marginal stains and foxing.
Calf backed marbled boards (c. 1800).
$1250
FIRST EDITION first issue (dated 1551) of this collection of previously unpublished works by the learned
Italian poet and antiquary, Lilio Gregorio Giraldi (1479–1552). The first of the "Libelli duo" mentioned in the title is
one of the earliest printed collections of riddles. Although written already in 1507, when Giraldi enjoyed the favor of
the Mirandola family to whose member, Giovanni Tommaso Pico, it is dedicated, it was printed only shortly before
he ended his long struggle with ill-health and poverty (1552). The second work (pp. 71-190), also dedicated to Pico,
8
deals with the symbolism used in the philosophy of Pythagoras. This is followed by two essays on thankfulness and
ingratitude.
Giraldi, who was born in Ferrara, had received an excellent classical education at the world-famous humanist
schools of his native city. During one of many travels in search of a patron he visited the academy at Naples where
he entered the service of Gianfrancesco Pico della Mirandola. In Milan he studied Greek under Demetrius
Chalcondyles and in Rome enjoyed the munificence of Pope Leo X; however following the sack of Rome in 1527,
during which he lost both his possessions and his patron, he made his way back to Ferrara where he spent the last
years of his life in poor circumstances.
§ VD 16 G 2099; Adams G-725; BM/STC German p. 361; Archer Taylor, Bibl. of Riddles, 662; Santi, Bibl.
della Enigmistica, no. 49.
LATIN-GREEK-GERMAN DICTIONARY
13. GRETSER, Jacob, S.J. Nomenclator Latinograeco-Germanicus, in gratiam tironum Graecae linguae ... Accessit
de verbis anomalis, defectiuis & poeticis commentariolus, multis locis correctus & auctus. Ingolstadt: Adam
Sartorius, 1598. 8vo, 2 parts in 1 vol. [2], 274, [98], 201 pp. Woodcut vignette on title-page with woodcut
headpieces and initials; Latin, Greek and German text; contemporary ownership inscription on title; title-page a little
dusty; some minor marginal foxing. Contemporary limp vellum made from early manuscript leaf (with neat repair
and without ties).
$2250
Greatly enlarged edition of this Latin-Greek-German dictionary to which a second volume has been added that
almost doubles the size of the first edition of 1595. The work is organized into thirty subject areas: e.g. God, the
heavens (moon, planets and stars); nature; time; the four elements; meteorology; metals, stones and gems; fruits;
plants; sea animals; land animals; arts and sciences; government; family; war and peace, etc. Also included here is a
very detailed ninety-eight page index for the first part which greatly enhances the works usefulness. The second
volume (Commentariolus verborum anomalorum et defectiuorum poëtis legendis admodum utilis), appearing here
for the first time, deals with a study of irregular Greek and Latin verbs to aid in the proper reading of the Greek and
Latin poets.
Jacob Gretser (1562-1625) was "A celebrated Jesuit writer ... He entered the Society of Jesus in 1578, and nine
years later he defended publicly theses covering the whole field of theology. Ingolstadt was the principal scene of
his work; here he taught philosophy for three years, dogmatic theology for fourteen and moral theology for seven
years. ... He was recognized as one of the best controversialists of his time, and was highly esteemed by Pope
Clement VIII, Emperor Ferdinand II, and Maximilian I of Bavaria. Some of the greatest lights of his age, such as
Cardinal Bellarmine and Marcus Welser, corresponded with him and consulted him in their difficulties. He edited or
expanded many works of the patristic and medieval writers, and composed erudite treatises on most diverse
subjects" (New Catholic Encyclopedia).
The rarity of the present work reflects, no doubt, on its usefulness with university students who would have
literally worn them out through heavy use.
The OCLC locates only the University of Toronto copy in North American Libraries.
§ VD 16, G 3223; de Backer-Sommervogel III, 1757-58, no. 36; Stalla, Ingolstadt 1851; not in Vancil.
THE MINERAL & ANIMAL KINGDOMS & CHEMISTRY
14. KÖNIG, Emanuel. Regnum minerale, generale et speciale, quorum illud naturalem et artificialem mineralium
productionem cum parallelismo alchymico verorum philosophorum, tractatibus hucusque ineditis, commentario
super introitum philalethae ... sistit; olimsub nomine regni quarti sulphurum fixorum metallicorum promissum. Hoc
vero metalla ... sulphura, terras, quin & acidulas, thermas ... practice recludit. Basel: Sumptibus & typis Emanuelis
König, 1703. 4to, 2 parts in 1 volume. [22], 181, [3]; 428, [4] pp. Without engraved portrait-frontispiece; title
printed in red and black; usual light browning and foxing due to quality of paper. Contemporary vellum over boards.
BOUND WITH
KÖNIG, E. Regnum animale sectionibus III physicè, medicè, anatomicè, harmonicè, mechanicè, theoreticè,
practicè evisceratum, enumeratum & emedullatum; hominis scilicet & brutorum machinam hydraulico-
pneumaticam comparatè: item V. classes universales, ac usum cibarium & medicinalem curiosis quibusvis
proponens. Basel; E. König, 1682. 4to. [12], 174, [2] pp. Woodcut printer's device on title-page; title printed in red
and black; stab mark in top margin of first half of work (occasionally affecting a few letters but mostly in blank
margins).
$1150
I. Third and most complete edition: "The Regnum minerale contains much chemical information... His analysis
of metals, gems, salts, sulfurs, and earths is accurate, although he shows credulity with respect to the magic virtue of
gems" (DSB VII, 459). "Originally published under a slightly different title in 1686 and again in 1687, the present is
the final and most complete edition. König published books at his own press on the three kingdoms of nature, which
display his extensive knowledge of contemporary scientific and technical periodical literature" (Neville). "The
9
Regnum Minerale deals with the names, differences, generation, nutrition and augmentation of metals ... Part II
deals with the separate metals ... Section III on stones includes gems, the magnet ... Section IV on the middle salts
includes also the preparation of acids, etc." (Partington). On the verso of leaf c4 there is a list of "Charateres
Chymici," including alchemical symbols.
II. FIRST EDITION: "The doctoral dissertation of König (1658-1731), professor of physics and medicine at
Basel, containing chapters on the sensitive soul, secretion of spirits, respiration, and other subjects of chemical and
biological interest, with numerous references to the work of John Mayow and his Tractatus Quinque (Oxford, 1674).
There are references to the works of Bohn, Bartholin, Barrichius, Gasssendi, Grew, Harvey, Hooke, Lower, et al.
Boyle's Sceptical Chymist (London, 1661) is mentioned (p. 16), and there are many other references to Boyle. Of
biochemical interest are discussions of blood and its chemical properties, respiration, biological fluids, etc. Other
editions appeared at Basel in 1698 and 1703. Rare. Not in Bolton, Duveen, Ferguson, Waller, etc." (Neville).
§ I. Wellcome III, 408; Duveen 326; Neu 2172; Sinkankas 3516; Neville I, p. 735; Ferchl 279; Partington II, p.
713; Neville I, p. 735; Ward & Carozzi, 1294.
II. VD 17 12:645357G; Wellcome III, 408; Krivatsy 6472; Partington, II, 318, 713.
WITH 110 ETCHED ILLUSTRATIONS OF FABLES / FINE UNCUT COPY
15. KRAFFT, Jean Laurent. Trésor de fables, choisies des plus excellens mythologistes, accompagnées du sens moral.
expliqué par l'Écriture Sainte. Avec des reflections, des maximes, des proverbes et
des exemples, tirés de l'Histoire sacrée et profane. Brussels: G. Jacobs widow, 1734.
4to, 2 volumes. 16, 165, [2] pp.: XVI, 193, [3] pp. With 2 engraved frontispieces, an
engraved coat of arms, an engraved portrait, 110 numbered full-page etched plates
and 27 etched vignettes all by J. L. Krafft; neat, near invisible, repair to tiny hole in
plate 47; some very minor foxing in blank margins of a few leaves; fine uncut copy.
Modern marbled paper covered boards.
$1750
FIRST EDITION of this finely illustrated collection of fables with one hundred
and ten full-page etchings by the Flemish etcher, Johann Laurentius Krafft (1694-
1762). The etchings are somewhat modified versions of many of the etchings that
had been done by Marcus Geeraerts in the De waarachtige fabulen der dieren
(Brügge; 1657). The two additional etchings are a portrait of the artist with the note
"Historiographe d'Allemagne" and that "Mensaert pinxit 1736" (that date is
obviously wrong); the other unnumbered plate in volume two, opposite page XII,
depicts the engraver in his study with his etching tools (after Eisen).
A superb uncut copy with the beautiful etchings in fine dark impressions.
§ Cohen-deRicci 996; Thieme-Becker XXI, 392; Timm-Bodemann, Kat. Illus.
Fabelausgaben, 116.1-116.2; Lewine, Bibl. of 18th Cent. Art., p. 537.
FINE WOODCUTS BY HANS SCHÄUFELEIN
16. (LEONRODT, Hans von). Hymelwagen auff dem, wer wol lebt und wol stirbt, fert in das ewig leben. Hellwagen
auff dem, wer übel lebt und übel stirbt, fert in die ewigen verdamnuß. Das ist die materi und innhalt diß büchlins.
Augsburg: Silvan Otmar, 1518. 4to, [176] pp. With white on black title woodcut border by Daniel Hopfer (A.F.
Johnson, no. 19) and 27 large (4 full-page, 5 repeat) text woodcuts; title in red and black; gothic letter; small paper
flaw in blank margin of F6; occasional light toning and few marginal smudges; four line ownership inscription of
Antonius de Lapide, dated 1563 on front fly-leaf; book plate of the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica.
Contemporary blind tooled pigskin over wooden boards with two brass clasps.
BOUND WITH
AUGUSTINUS, Aurelius. Sermones ad heremitas. Homiliae duae. (Strassburg; Johann Prüss, not after 1487).
106 (of 108) leaves. Gothic type in 2 columns; clean, fresh copy.
$9850
10
I. Second edition, first published the previous year by Otmar, of this
beautifully illustrated mystical work on the afterlife. A superb and rare
series of woodcuts that denote a high point in Schäufelein's art of
illustration: "Die Leonrodt-Holzschnitte bezeichnen einen weiteren
Höhepunkt Schäufeleinscher Illustrationskunst. Alle handelnden
Personen sind als große Figuren gegeben. Das Eingängige dieser
Illustrationen liegt nicht so sehr in einer vordergründigen Einfachheit,
etwa in der Beschränkung von Motiven, sondern in der Fähigkeit des
Künstlers zu prägnanter Wiedergabe. Bei der Illustrierung von
Leonrodts Text, der in seiner Weise mit ganz verwandten Mitteln
arbeitet, entstand eine genuine, wirkungssteigernde Verbindung von
Wort und Bild" – Karl Schreyl, Hans Schäufelein. Das
druckgraphische Werk. (1990).
Hans Leonhard Schäufelein (c. 1480–1540), eminent German
painter, designer, and woodcutter, was born in Nuremberg, where he
probably first studied under Wohlgemut before becoming an assistant
to Dürer, who became a major influence. He moved in 1512 to
Augsburg. Among his most famous illustrations were those made for
the Theuerdank and the Weisskunig that had been commissioned by
Emperor Maximilian. The twenty-seven beautiful woodcuts that appear
here have Schäufelein’s monogram and mark.
The lovely woodcut, white on a black ground, title border was
executed by Daniel Hopfer (1470?-1536) who has signed it with his initials. The woodcut is illustrated in A.F.
Johnson’s, German Renaissance Borders (no. 19: using the present work as its example).
The OCLC locates copies at Smith College, Cornell University and The Pierpont Morgan Library.
II. Bound with the fourth edition of Saint Augustine's Sermones ad heremitas which was printed in Strassburg by
Johann Prüss before 1487. The GW notes it under ‘pseudo-Augustinus.’ A very handsome piece of Strassburg
printing which unfortunately is lacking two leaves (K4 & 5) which were never bound in: Otherwise a very nice,
fresh copy.
A lovely volume which is handsomely bound in a very attractive binding decorated with an unusual roll
repeating three motifs: A half figure in a jester's cap; followed by a full standing figure surrounded by eleven stars
with his hand out holding a flame; followed by a stylized flowerpot. This appears within a decorative flower roll;
triple fillet frames and single floral ornament (thistle?) in the margins; with both clasps present.
§ I. VD 16, L 1239; Oldenbourg L 132; Hollstein XLIII, 313-34; Schreyl 846-867 (1517 ed. with same
woodcuts); Proctor 10769; Camp. Dodgson, II, p. 12, no. 13; Mutter p. 918 (plates 186-89).
II. Hain-Copinger 1997; GW 3002; BMC I, 125; Goff A-1314.
PICTURE BIBLE & HISTORY
17. LOSSIUS, Caspar Friedrich. Moralische Bilderbibel mit Kupfern nach Schubertschen Zeichnungen und mit
Erklärungen von Kaspar Friedrich Lossius. Gotha: Perthes, 1805-12. 8vo, 5 volumes. with 74 engravings (5 as
frontispieces) after J. Schubert by various engravers. Printed on a fine quality, laid paper; fine fresh copy.
Contemporary calf paper covered boards (designed to match spine) with leather labels.
$975
FIRST EDITION of this scarce very rare work which was published by subscription, with a detailed list of
subscribers appearing at the beginning, starting with Prince Ernst zu Hessen and Princess Adelheid von Sachsen.
The work is dedicated to his Friedrich Wilhelm crown prince of Prussia.
Kaspar Friedrich Lossius (1753-1817) was deacon and rector of an advanced school for girls at Erfurt. The work
was intended to teach the basic principles of religion and ethics from the stories of the bible; illustrated with
seventy-four beautiful illustrations after the paintings of Johann David Schubert (1761-1822) that had been specially
commissioned for this work and which were etched and engraved by a number of fine engravers of the period
(including: Amadeus Wenzel Böhm; Gottlieb Boettger, Senior; Friedrich Bolt; Ludwig Buchhorn; Johann
A.Darnstedt; Carl Frosch ; Meno Haas; Joh. F. Jügel; Joh. Fr. W. Jury; E. G. Krüger; Joh. A. Rossmässler; Heirich
Schmidt; G.C. Schule; C.F .Stoelzel; Joh. C. Weinrauch). In addition to biblical events volumes two to four deal
with Greek and Roman history as interpreted through Christian teachings.
A number of sets and individual volumes are located in the OCLC which also locates a copy of just a set of the
engravings which was issued separately in 1812 located in a German library with the title: Moralische Bilderbibel,
Kupfer zu Lossius allgemein-moralischer Bilderbibel published by Justus Perthes at Gotha.
This first edition was printed on a very fine, high quality laid paper and has been beautifully preserved it its
original handsome binding. It would seem that the subscriber's copies were printed on a better paper than the
11
regular edition. The set at Harvard which has been copied by Google, was clearly on an inferior paper with the
illustrations especially appearing very browned in their copy.
§ Rümann, 82; Wegehaupt I, 1332; Düsterdieck, Hobrecker 4845.
MATHEMATICS OF SURVEYING
18. MASCHERONI, Lorenzo. Problemi per gli agrimensori con varie soluzioni. Pavia: B. Comino, 1793. 8vo, VIII,
76 pp. [2] leaves (errata leaf and last leaf blank). With 4 folding engraved plates; title and few leaves with some
foxing to title and first few leaves. Modern wrappers.
$775
FIRST EDITION of the author's Problems for surveyors with various solutions which deals with practical
applications of his theories on solving geometry problems which would lay the groundwork for his most famous
work, Geometria del compasso, published in 1797 at Pavia: "He is best known ... for his Geometria del Compasso,
in which he shows that all plane construction problems that can be solved with ruler and compass can also be solved
with compass alone. It is understood that the given and unknowns are points; in particular, a straight line is
considered known if two points of it are known" (DSB, IX, p. 156)
Lorenzo Mascheroni (1750-1800), mathematician and poet, started as a teacher at the Lyceum at Bergamo and
later became professor of mathematics the University of Pavia.
§ Riccardi I/2, 133, 7.1; Cantor IV, 370; Poggendorff II, cols. 71-72; cf. Smith, Hist. of Math. I, pp. 516-17;
Cajori, Hist. of Math. p. 268-69.
PICTURE BIBLE 120 ETCHINGS BY CONRAD MEYER
19. MEYER, Conrad. Des Newen Testaments Unsers Herren Jesu Christi Fornembste Historien und Offenbarungen.
[BOUND WITH] Über Unsers Herrn Jesu Christi Leiden, Tod, und Aufferstehung. Geschichtmässige Figuren.
[BOUND WITH] Fier und Zwentzig Lehren Unsers Herren Jesu Christi, Zu Erbauung, in Kupffergebracht. Zurich:
Conrad Meyer, (ca. 1636-66) restrikes from ca. 1790-1800. Oblong 4to, 3 volumes in 1. With 3 etched title-pages,
66 (with 68 illustrations) plates, 33 plates and 21 plates (for a total of 120) etched by Conrad Meyer; with very wide
margins; some foxing (mostly in margins); small tear in inner blank margin of first title-page. Contemporary boards
(worn).
$2650
Three very rare series of engravings, which possibly
were influenced by the Merian copperplate Bible since the
engraver had work in their atelier. The creation of the
etchings was originally spread over several decades (1636
to 1666) and later reprints are not known. However the
existence of the present volume would indicate that the
plates were still available around 1800. The dating can be
estimated from the watermark evidence in the fine laid
paper used. The watermark "JC de R. Im-Hof" was the
trade mark of Johann Christoph de Rudolph Imhof, a
Basel Paper Mill that was active in the late 18th and early
19th century.
Conrad Meyer (1618–1689), a talented painter and
engraver of Zürich, had studied under Matthäus Merian
and worked in his shop. He was successful as a painter of
portraits and landscapes, but later specialized on copper
engraving, producing more than a thousand works. A very
impressive collection of 120 etchings, of a very high
quality, which appears to be rather scarce. The first series
of sixty-six plates illustrated the New Testament and events in the life of Jesus. The second series (thirty-three
plates) deals with The Passion and the events before and after; the final series is twenty-four etchings taken from the
Book of Revelation with depictions of the symbolism and prophecy of the End of Times. All the engravings had two
lines of scripture below the etchings using Swiss dialect spellings of German.
The OCLC notes one copy of the first title in a Swiss library (in 12mo). The KVK locates two copies a copy of
the first work at the Zentralbibliothek Zürich; one with just twenty-five and a second of twenty-six etchings instead
of the sixty-six present here in our first volume (printed on smaller paper but with the same scatter marginal foxing)
compared to their online copy (Online via e-rara.ch); one has a exlibris dated 1701. The other two titles don't appear
in the KVK. The Universal Catalogue of Books on Art list examples of the second and third work (vol. II, p. 1362 &
p. 1363); both have variant titles without the Swiss dialect spellings and with the first described as an 8vo dated
1646 and the third as a 4to dated 1674.
§ Brun II, 382 (only II: "Christi Leiden", dated 1646).
12
CELEBRATING MARRIAGE BETWEEN TWO EMINENT HUMANIST FAMILIES
20. MICYLLUS, Jakob. Epithalamion In Nuptias Clarissimi Viri Adami Wernheri A Themar, Iur. Vtri. Doctoris,
iudicij camerae Imperialis Aduocati & Procuartoris &c. & Sponsae virginis Mechtyldis, ex nobili familia
Mynsingerorum à Frundeck prognatae. Worms: Excudebat Gregorius Comiander (i.e. Georg Hofmann), 1551. 4to,
[24] pp. Text in large italic type; contemporary signature on title-page; small hole in blank margin of last leaf; title
and last page dusty with traces of use. Unbound pamphlet.
$975
ONLY EDITION of this neolatin wedding poem celebrating the marriage between Mechtylda Mysinger
(Münsinger) von Frundeck and Adam Wernher (Werner) von Themar, the younger: Both from families famous for
the humanist scholars they produced and who are named throughout the poem along with margin notes to (to help
identify those mentioned). An epithalamium (Latin form of Greek ἐπιθαλάμιον, epithalamion) is a poem written
specifically for the bride on the way to her marital chamber.
The elder Adam Wernher von Themar (1470 - 1537), was a humanist, educator, poet, translator, lawyer and
professor of theology at the University of Heidelberg where he also served as dean, rector as well as tutor to the sons
of Elector Philip of the Palatinate. The younger Adam is noted on the title as a doctor of law serving as a member of
the Imperial Council and on the Court of Appeals. Mechtylda Mysinger von Frundeck was a member of the Swabian
family of humanist scholars, the most eminent being the classical scholar and poet, Joachim Mysinger (Münsinger)
von Frundeck (1514-1588), chancellor to the Duke of Wolfenbuttel. Joachim and Johannes Mysinger as well as
Petrus and Johannes Werner, among others, are mentioned in the poem and identified in marginal notes.
The author, Jacob Micyllus (i.e. Moltzer: 1503-1558) of Strassburg owed his literary name, Micyllus: "from the
part of that character in a dramatic representation of Lucian's 'Dream' at Erfurt where he was under the influence of
the enthusiastic Latin scholar and poet, Eobanus Hessus. After continuing his studies under Melanchthon at
Wittenberg, he lectured on Latin at Frankfurt, and on Greek at Heidelberg. He was associated with Camerarius in an
edition of Homer comprising the earlier and shorter scholia of Didymus (1541). His independent works included the
editio princeps of the fables of Hyginus (1535) ... editions of large portions of Ovid, a translation of the whole of
Lucian (1538), and a treatise on prosody (1539)" (Sandys, II, p. 267): see Erdmann's My Gracious Silence, no. 2 (his
1538 Lucian) and no. 21 (for another example of Epithalmia).
Regarding the bridegroom see "Adam Werner von Themar" by Karl Hartfelder in Zeitschrift für vergleichende
Litteraturgeschichte, Volume 5. pp. 214 ff. (Berlin, 1892). Hartfelder describes the present work on page 220 with
addition information on Adam Werner the younger. Hartfelder believed that Adam the younger was more likely a
nephew because he wasn't aware of senior having been married.
An interesting and rare work celebrating the marriage of two families famous for their poets and jurists.
The OCLC locates only microfilm copies.
§ VD 16 M 6110; cf. ADB XXI, 704; Ellinger II, 28; not in BM/STC or Adams.
EARLIEST BIO-BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF FAMOUS BOLOGNESE MEN AND WOMEN /
NEAR MINIATURE
21. [MONTALBANI, Ovidio]. Minervalia Bonon. civium anademata, seu bibliotheca Bononiensis, cui accessit
antiquiorum pictorum, & sculptorum Bonon. Brevis catalogus, collectore Io. Antonio Bumaldo. Bologna: Typis
Hæredis Victorij Benatij (Benacci's heirs), 1641. 24mo, 264 pp. Title printed within plain line border; light foxing.
Contemporary calf (very worn, cloth rebacked with orig. spine laid over; corner's bumped).
$1150
FIRST EDITION of the earliest general bio-bibliographical dictionary of famous Bolognese
men and women--altogether about 1,000--alphabetically arranged and listing not only writers, but
also saints, churchmen, philosophers, statesmen and military men and in a special section on
pages 238 to 262 the GREAT PAINTERS, SCULPTORS AND ARCHITECTS OF BOLOGNA
(among them Serlio). This part was one of the principal sources for Count Malvasia's Felsina
Pittrice (1678). With each name included are the principal books, artistic works and buildings
listed.
The author, Ovidio Montalbani (1602-1671), was a well-known scientist and professor at
Bologna University who, among other things, wrote the first general bibliography of botanical
books (Bologna: 1657): "A prolific writer on botanical, medical, scientific, and historical
subjects, Montalbani often wrote under the pseudonym of Antonio Bumaldo" (Breslauer &
Folter, Bibliography Its History and Development, no. 60).
A scarce work which, because of its near miniature size (4" x 2 1/4": 10.5 x 6 cm.), was
obviously intended to be carried about on one's person for quick reference.
§ Breslaueriana 937; Cicognara 2221; Melzi I, 156; Besterman I, 527; Schlosser, Kunstlit., 469, 509.
13
MORAVIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA / ILLUSTRATED WITH 16 FOLDING PLATES & RARE
PORTRAIT
22. MORAVIAN CHURCH; [CRANZ, David?]. Kurze, zuverlässige Nachricht von der, unter dem Namen der
Böhmisch-mährischen Brüder bekanten, Kirche Unitas Fratrum,Herkommen, Lehr-Begrif, äussern und innern
Kirchen-Verfassung und Gebräuchen, aus richtigen Urkunden und Erzehlungen von einem ihrer christlich
unpartheiischen Freunde heraus gegeben. No place or printer: 1757. 8vo, 64 pp. 16 folding engraved plates (by J.
Rud. Holzhalb); with the rare folding engraved frontispiece/portrait of Zinzindorff (found only in a few copies); title
in red and black; some light foxing; neat repair to one plate (no loss). Contemporary mottled calf.
$2650
FIRST EDITION of "A short, reliable report from the church of the Unitas Fratrum, known under the name of
the Bohemian-Moravian Brethren, concerning canon, external and internal church constitution and customs, from
official documents and oral records, published by a Christian antipartisian friends" which sometimes is attributed to
the Moravian theologian, David Cranz (1723-1777), who wrote a number of works on the Moravian church history
and its mission activities while having served as secretary to Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, a founding figure in
the new order of Moravians. “These texts remove the lies and set aright the canon and facts that have been twisted
by the opposition" (Preface). Starting with a short history of the Brethren the text contains their creed, organization,
manner of dress and clothing, economy, ordination, liturgies, baptism, missions to the heathens, schools and
academies, choir and band, care of small children, etc.
There is an addendum (pp. 59-64) which deals with an act of Parliament signed by George II on the 10th of
November 1747: "An Act inviting those known as the Unitas Fratrum or the United Brethren to settle in his
Majesty’s colonies in North America." Included is the permissible form of obligatory statement Moravians can make
instead of the usual oath needed to be taken by colonists, their possibly military duties (this was in the middle of the
French Indian War) in the colonies and how those military duties can be properly avoided, organization of the
colony and responsibilities of the colonists, etc.
Probably what is most remarkable about the volume are the sixteen folding "Interesting plates by J. Rud.
Holzhalb"(Baginsky) which illustrate the major ceremonies of the Moravians with special attention given to
missionary activity in the New World including among American Indians, Greenlanders and Africans in the West
Indies. The plates are: I. Ordination of a Bishop in the Unity of the Brethren in London; II. Acceptance into the
Brethren; III. Baptism of a Child; IV. EXORCISM of the Baptismal Candidate among the Negroes; V. Baptism of
the Indians in America; VI. Baptism of the Greenlanders; VII. Baptized Negroes; VIII. Consecration; IX.
Distribution [communion]; X. Participation; XI. The Adoration of the Lord; XII. The Holy Kiss of Peace; XIII.
Footwashing; XIV. Children’s Love Feast; XV. Wedding of Twelve Couples of Colonists; XVI Easter Liturgy.
The present copy has the very rare folding engraved portrait of Zinzindorf (1700-1760) with the Biblical motto
"Dein Alter sei wie deine Jugend" ("May your old age be as your youth"). W.G. Malin's Catalogue of Books relating
to ... the United Fratrum, (p. 107) lists a folio edition in the same year of 22 pages. A French translation appeared in
1762.
§ Sabin 97851; Baginski, German Works Relating to America, 365-66; ADB IV, 566.
14
INCUNABULA / BAVARIAN HISTORY
23. NEUNHAUSER, Johann. Oratiuncula ad Innocentium VIII pollicitae oboedientiae [Oratio ad Innocentium VIII].
Rome: Stephan Plannck, (after June 1485). 4to, [4] pp. Black letter; 34 lines; 2 old bookseller's descriptions on front
paste-down; fine fresh copy. Modern vellum backed boards.
$3450
RARE FIRST EDITION of this oration by the Bavarian papal envoy, Johann Neuhauser (or Neunhauser: d.
1516), to Pope Innocent VIII. This edition was followed by an undated issue with 33 lines (Hain 11697). An
important document for Bavarian history delivered by an important figure who served in high office during the
regencies of two Bavarian dukes (cf. ADB, vol. 23, p. 507). Neunhauser (Neuhauser) became cathedral dean
(Domdechant) at Regensberg in 1473 and as a counselor to Duke Albrecht IV he negotiated before the Roman Curia
in the same year. His missions on behalf of the Duke took him to Holland and several missions to Rome, including
the 1485 "Obedience" to the new Pope Innocent VIII, in which he gave this speech. Neuhauser in 1508 served
during the regency of Duke Wilhelm IV and as Chancellor of Bavaria 1514/15. In 1515 he was accused of treason
and imprisoned; he died on 26 January 1516 in Munich.
The political situation in Bavaria was used as an excuse for the delay in presenting himself before the new pope
as the BMC notes "On 1a, l, 22ff., Neunhauser remarks that the Duke would have sent to do homage long ago 'si nō
suę ι fratris sibi aduersantis maxime differētię … impedimēto hacten9 fuissent. Quo aūt nūc sublato: et differētijs
fraternal sopitis cōcordia: euestigio … te … ex more salutare auidissim9 fuit’. On 12 June, 1485, the Estates
assembled at Munich and succeeded in bringing the Duke and his brother Christian to terms.”
A rare work with both Goff and the ISTC locating only two copies in American libraries (LC and Yale).
§ Goff N 16 (LC & Yale); IGI 6783; BMC IV, 86; GW M25995; BSB N-28.
ALCHEMY - CHEMISTRY
24. PARACELSUS, Theophrastus; DORN, Gerhard. Aurora thesaurusque philosophorum ... accessit Monarchia
physica per Gerardum Dorneum, in defensionem Paracelsicorum principiorum, à suo praeceptore positorum,
praeterea Anatomia viva Paracelsi, qua docet autor praeter sectionem corporum, & ante mortem, patientibus esse
succurrendum. Basel: (Thomas Guarinus), 1577. 8vo, 191 pp. Woodcut printer's device, 8 small schematic and 4
near full-page woodcuts; 2 old collection stamps on title (1 repeated in text); bottom corner margins repaired to first
gathering with a few letters neatly penned in; some light marginal damp marks towards end; some early underlining.
Calf backed decorated paper covered boards (ca. 1800).
$2850
FIRST EDITION of this rare collection of alchemical texts attributed to Paracelsus (1493-1541) edited and
translated by Gerhard Dorn, one of the most ardent and influential of the Paracelsians. Dorn has also included some
of his own texts. In fact the first work (p. 8-55), on the Philosopher's Stone, is now thought to be possibly by Dorn.
It was translated into English in 1659 (Paracelsus his Aurora, & treasure of the philosophers. As also the water-
stone of the wise men; describing the matter of, and manner how to attain the universal tincture). It is followed (pp.
56-63) with the first Latin edition of Paracelsus' Thesaurus Thesaurorum: The Monarchia triadis (p. 65-127) is by
Dorn and the Anatomia corporum (pp. 129-180) is also presumed to be by Dorn (see ADB V, 351 & Duveen). The
final work (p. 181-191), Anatomia Theophrasti Paracelsi, is an extract of Paracelsus (from his: Septem libri de
gradibus, de compositionibus, de dosibus receptorum ac naturalium). These last two works were intended by Dorn
to attack the plagiarists of Paracelsian physiological and pathological urine analysis, especially Leonhart
Thurneysser.
These works were very influential. As already noted an English edition appeared of the first text in 1659,
regarding which Neville, who had only an incomplete copy, notes: "Complete copies are very difficult to find, as
this English edition was much used by adepts in their attempts at transmutation" (II, p. 261: the present work not in
Neville). Its influence can also be seen in the fact that a "dog-eared copy" of the present Latin work was in Isaac
Newton's library (John Harrison, The Library of Isaac Newton, H1238).
§ VD 16 P 405; Wellcome I, 4793; Duveen 452; Ferguson II (fragment only), 168; Sudhoff, Bib. Paracelsica
177; Brüning, Bibl. der alchemistischen Lit., 503; Not in BM/STC, Durling or Waller.
60 MAGNIFICENT ENGRAVINGS
25. PICART, Bernard. Le temple des muses, orné de LX. tableaux oá sont représenté les evenemens les plus
remarquables de l'antiquité fabuleuse. Amsterdam: Z. Chatelain, 1749. Large folio, [6], 152, [4] pp. With engraved
title, engraved title vignette and 60 engraved plates by Picart within various ornamental borders; title printed in red
and black; early engraved book plate. Contemporary calf, gilt spine.
$2850
15
Fine French text edition (1st: 1733) illustrated with this superb series of large
engravings which also appeared with German, English and Dutch texts. The engraved
descriptive text that appears at the bottom of the engravings are in French, English,
German and Dutch. Picart's magnificent engravings, each within an ornate engraved
border, depict fables of the ancient world, many taken from Ovid. The plates, going
back to de Marolles representations of classical sites of ancient mythology are
depicted in rich, dramatic moving landscapes, including Pandora, Prometheus,
Phaeton, Daphne, Orpheus, Salamacis, Icarus, Narcissus, Arion, etc.; also present are
some wonderfully dramatic night scenes including stellar allegories, etc. The text is
by Antoine de La Barre de Beaumarchais.
"Bernard Picart was the outstanding professional illustrator of the first third of the
eighteenth century, an age during which the designs for the finest illustrated books
were typically drawn by leading painters. He worked for the most part in the fading
baroque tradition, but there are elements in his immense production which herald the
new age. When his diverse accomplishments are finally catalogued and analyzed, his
standing as a book artist will be greatly enhanced" ( Ray p. 7).
§ Cohen-deRicci 531; Brunet V, 696.
INCUNABULA / "On the dignity of man" / THE CABALA / ITALIAN RENAISSANCE PHILOSOPHY
26. PICO DELLA MIRANDOLA, Giovanni. Opera. Bologna [i.e. Lyon]: Benedictus Hectoris Faelli [i.e. Nicolaus de
Benedictis & Jacobinus Suigus], 20 March 1496 [i.e. not after 1498]. Folio, 2 parts in 1 volume. [151] leaves
(without last blank); [126] leaves. Roman type; large woodcut initials and a woodcut diagram; some early
underlining; title-page lightly toned; few minor smudges; tiny marginal worm hole and minor damp mark in top
margin last two leaves; minor wormhole in margins last 3 leaves; early ownership inscription De Lahaulle
Duchemin on title (one other crossed out), bookplates of Kenneth Clark of Saltwood and the Bibliotheca
Philosophica Hermetica. 18th century calf (neatly rebacked with original spine laid down) with marbled end papers.
$14500
An exact counterfeit of the Bologna first edition which was
actually printed by two rather clever printers in Lyon—who
even copied the original Bolognese imprint—of the collected
works of the great Italian humanist Giovanni Pico Della
Mirandola. It had been edited by his nephew, Giovanni
Francesco Pico della Mirandola, and published in 1496. This is
a fascinating example of an attempt to cash in on the demand
for the texts of an author—who had published little in his short
lifetime—whose reputation for dealing with such controversial
subjects as magic and the Cabbala had created a demand for
his writings. The Bologna Opera would include the first
appearance of many of his major works.
The first volume contains Pico's biography by his nephew
and his philosophical treatises. This includes his most famous
work, On the Dignity of Man, which was first published in his
Opera with the modest title of "Oratio quedam elegantissima."
It wasn't until its appearance in a 1557 Basel collection that it would be given the title it is known by today.
"Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1463–94) is, after Marsilio Ficino, the best known philosopher of the Renaissance:
his Oration on the Dignity of Man is better known than any other philosophical text of the fifteenth century. Pico
was also remarkably original—indeed, idiosyncratic. The deliberately esoteric and aggressively recondite character
of his thought may help explain why Renaissance philosophy has had so small a place, until recently, in the
canonical history of the discipline as accepted by Anglophone philosophers." (Stanford Enc. Phil.). Pico's oration
On the Dignity of Man has been called the "Manifesto of the Renaissance," a key text of Renaissance humanism and
of what has been called the "Hermetic Reformation." Pico was also the first Christian to treat knowledge of Cabbala
as valuable; an example of which can which seen in his Heptaplus, a Cabalist commentary on the first 26 verses of
Genesis, which is also included here.
The second volume contains his famous disputations on astrology (Disputationes adversus astrologos): "The
story is that Pico, the great opponent of astrology, was enraged because the astrologers had foretold the time of his
death—yet his death occurred on the day, month, and year predicted" (Stillwell). The work was collected and
composed by Pico's nephew who found the incomplete manuscript bundled with his dead uncle's papers. One
example of the works influence was its effect on G.D. Cassini who turned from the study of astrology after reading
it and went on to become one of the great astronomers of his time.
16
This counterfeit edition, which was handsomely produced, is much rarer than the original with Goff locating
only four copies: Univ. of Michigan, Claremont Colleges, General Theological Seminary and College of Physicians
of Philadelphia with the ISTC adding one more (Dibner Library); with Goff locating about twenty copies of the first.
The provenance is also very nice. In addition to the very early inscription of De Lahaulle Duchemin, the volume
had also been in the collection of the eminent British author, museum director and broadcaster, Kenneth Clark
(1903-1983), who was one of the best-known art historians of his generation; his Saltwood castle book plate appears
on the back paste-down. The most recent exlibris is of the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica.
§ ISTC no. ip00633000; Copinger 4750 (not Hain 12992); GW M33284; Goff P-633; Klebs, Incunabula
scientifica et medica, 764.3; Stillwell, Awakening Interest in Science, 87; not in the BMC.
WITH 39 LARGE WOODCUTS
27. PLUTARCH. Ankunfft, Leben und wesen, glück und unglück, gut und böse, weise und unweise Räthe, Reden,
Anschläge, Thaten, Merckliche warhaffte Historien und Geschichten, frommer und unfrommer, hoher, fürtrefflicher
Manns und Frawen personen: Nemlich, der Griechen und Römer ... Von dem namhafftigsten Griechischen
Geschichtschreiber Plutarcho beschriben; und volgends ins Teutsch bracht/ durch den fürnemen und weisen Herrn
Hieronymum Boner. Colmar: Bartholomäus Grüninger, 1547 (colophon: 1541). Folio, 2 parts in 1 volume. [5], 484
(i.e. 486), [1], 161, [1] leaves (last leaf blank). Title printed in red and black; fine woodcut vignette of 3
landsknechten on title-page, large heraldic woodcut and 39 half-page woodcuts; some light damp marks in top
margins of some leaves in middle of volume; some early annotations and underling; early collector's name "V.
Engelshofen" on title; title with the old name stamp; gift inscription on front paste-down to "Joanne Geogio
Hoffman" from a "Vinicislao Hegemuller ... anno 1632"; fine armorial of Franz Count of Thun and Hohenstein; one
modern bookplate; Very nice copy. Contemporary blind tooled pigskin over beveled wooden boards (without
clasps).
$4850
FIRST COMPLETE EDITION of the German translation by Hieronymus Boner; this is a reissue of the original
sheets of the first edition of 1541 but with a canceled title-page (changing wording and year). A partial translation
with only eight lives was published already in 1534 at Augsburg. Bartholomäus Grüninger, son Strassburg printer
Johann Grüninger, had moved his printing house from Strassburg in 1539 to Colmar where he worked until 1543.
According to Benzing (Die Buchdrucker des 16. und 17. Jahrhunderts) this is one of only ten books recorded as
published in Colmar by Bartholomäus.
The fine half-page woodcuts are by several different artists; many by master artists in this medium, including
Jakob Kallenberg (with his monogram IK), with some by lesser hands.
A very nice copy of this large handsomely printed and illustrated work in its original sturdy blind stamped
pigskin binding.
§ VD 16, P 3769; Benzing, Colmar, Grüninger No. 10; Goedeke II, 319, 6; Hoffmann, Bibl. Lexikon der
Griechen, III, p. 208.
17
“AN IMPORTANT EARLY CRITICAL AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL WORK CONCERNING VITRUVIUS”
28. POLENI, Giovanni; VITRUVIUS POLLIO. Exercitationes Vitruvianae Primae [- Tertiae]. Padua: Typis
Seminarii. Apud Ioannem Manfrè, 1739-41. Folio, 3 volumes in 1. [4], 360 pp. Woodcut printer's device on each
title-page with full-page text engraving and 4 engraved headpieces (by Antonio Visentini); numerous text woodcuts
(some full-page); fine wide margined copy. Contemporary vellum over boards with red speckled fore-edges.
$2250
FIRST EDITION. "An important early critical and bibliographical work concerning Vitruvius. The second
printing of Baldi's Scamilli Impares Vitruviani is included in Part III ... The headpieces were engraved by Antonio
Visentini" (Fowler). The first volume (pages 1 to 135), "Exercitationes ... Primae" is a detailed bibliography and
commentary of the editions of the ten books of Vitruvius, including manuscript copies. The following volumes
include important commentaries on Vitruvian texts with Poleni's observations and comments.The second volume
(pages 139 to 215) is the text of Giovan Battista Morgagni, Epistola; Bernardino Baldi, Vita: Anonymi Scriptoris
Compendium Architecturae Vitruvii Cum Annottionibus Ioannis Poleni. The third volume (pages 219 to 360) is the
text of Baldi, Scamilli Impares Vitruviviani; Ptolemy, Epistola; Giovanni Buteo (Bozzo), Ad locum Vitruvii
Corruptum Restitutio; Jakob Ziegler, Hemicyclium Berosi ... ; Buonaventura Cavalieri, De Echeis ...; Athanasius
Kircher, De Echeis sive phonismis theatri Corinthiaci...; Salviati, Raio Accurate Deformandi Tum Volutam;
Nicolaus Goldmann, Voluta Ionica Vitruvii; Giovanni Battista Bertani, Loca Obscrua et difficilia Operis Ionici
Vitruviani.
Giovanni Poleni (1683-1761) was professor of mathematics and astronomy at Padua where he managed to
establish an up to date physics laboratory in 1738. He was involved in a number of hydraulics projects resulting with
him becoming a much sought after expert in the field. He also was interested in archeology and architecture; his
opinions were solicited regarding the stability of the dome of St. Peter's which had been repaired according to the
designs of Boscovitch. He was a member of the French Academy of Sciences and a correspondent of Euler,
Maupertuis and the Bernoullis.
Fine fresh, wide margined copy, illustrated with finely illustrated with detailed woodcuts and engraving.
§ Fowler 250: Riccardi I/2, 295, 28 ("Bella edizione."); Ebhardt 78; Cicognara 612.
WITH DETAILED ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE OF EQUIPMENT FOR A CHEMISTRY-ALCHEMY
LABORATORY
29. PUTEO, Zacharias a; VENEROSO, Gironimo. Clavis Medica Rationalis, spagyrica et chyrurgica; quae in
tractatu consultorio de stranguria, pruritu et herpete exedente varia ... recludit præsidia ... Cui additur (circa
prædictos affectus) consultatio responsiva H. Venerosii. [WITH] Officina chymicha fornacium, vasorum, ac
instrumentorum ad destillationem pertinentium. [WITH] Hieronymi Venerosii medici physici Ianuen. clarissimi, ac
celeberimi, Consultatio responsiua de vrinæ stillicidio, pruritu, & herpete exedente. Venice: Apud typographum
Leonis Aureati, 1612/11. 4to, 3 volumes in 1. [24], 306 pp., 1 blank,; [40] pp. (=Officina Chymicha); [72] pp.
(=index & errata); [16] pp. (=Hieronymi Venerosii). 3 different printer's devices, 1 woodcut title border and 134 text
woodcuts of furnaces, vessels, etc. Tiny worm holes in bottom inner blank margins of few gatherings in 2nd
work;
light brown spot along bottom half of last few gatherings of index (not affecting woodcuts); one woodcut slightly
trimmed. Contemporary limp vellum (small tear on spine).
$ 6500
FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. The second and third parts each have
separate title-pages dated 1611. "Unknown to all the usual authorities; only
Joecher (III, 1819) mentions the author and this book. It is mainly a chemico-
pharmaceutical treatise on diseases of the skin and urinary tract, and contains,
apart from a great number of other recipes a section 'Auro Potabilis Constructio'
(on pp. 241-60). The three parts have separate title-pages. The main interest of
this apparently very rare book lays in part 3, which consists of a title page and
19 leaves with no text, but only 134 numbered woodcuts of furnaces, vessels,
and other chemical apparatus. The printer's mark, the title border and a very
considerable number of these woodcuts are exactly the same as those used in
the first ed., Venice 1540, of Biringuccio's 'Pirotechnia'; there are 37 woodcuts
printed from the original blocks, and 37 more, which are inverted reductions of
the original block. Thus, more than 50 years after the publication of this celebrated handbook of technology, the
same blocks or reductions of them, served again for this treatise" (Duveen).
The first work, which deals with the making of pharmaceuticals, includes among the plant extractions and
distillates the use of numerous plants from the New World as well including a whole chapter (viii) which discuss's
mechoacan (a plant named after Michoacán, Mexico where it is found). The last work, the Consultio by Girolamo
Veneroso Lomellino (1545-1625), deals with the study of urine in regards to the health of the liver and other organs.
§ Krivatsy 362; Duveen 489; Wellcome I, 5301; Ferchl 428; Alden-Landis, European Americana 612/99 (2
copies); Neu 3386; Ferchl 428.
18
ASTRONOMY: EXACT MEASUREMENT OF COMETS, JUPITER'S MOONS, LUNAR & SOLAR
ECLIPSES
30. ROST, Johann Leonhard. Der aufrichtige astronomus. Welcher von verschiedenen, so wol zur doctrina sphaerica
als zur Bewegung der Cometen und zu den observationibus astronomicis gehörigen Materien, einen ausführlichen
Unterricht ertheilet. Dabey er ferner auf eine überaus deutliche Art lehret: Wie man die eclipses primi satellitis
Jovis durch blosses Addiren erforschen; dessgleichen alle Mond- und Sonnen-Finsternisse biss auf das Jahr 1750,
ohne einige Rechnung, zur durch Zirckel und Lineal sehr genau anzeigen soll. Zu weitern Aufnehmen der höchst-
nützlichen Astronomie, an das Licht gestellet und durch viele Figuren begreiflicher gemacht. Nuremberg: Bey Peter
Conrad Monath, 1727. 4to, [14], 336, 24, [8] pp. With engraved frontispiece and 14 numbered folding engraved
plates. Completely uncut copy; small repair to inner margin to title-page just touching a few letters; fine copy.
Original publisher's interim flexible boards.
$1650
FIRST EDITION of this important work intended for the advanced student of astronomy. It was composed to
continue the education of students who had finished the author's earlier published Astronomisches handbuch (1718)
which was; “the first rigorous scientific introduction to astronomy in the German language” (A.D.B. XXIX p. 274:
trans.).
The work deals with the theories of the solar system with the study and documentation of the movement of
comets through the system by observation and calculation using astronomical records along with the author's
detailed instructions and analysis. He provides clear explanations on the study of the motion of the moons of Jupiter
by calculation and using the same methods to ascertain all the lunar and solar eclipses events up to 1750, both with
the use of a protractor as well how they could also be accurately calculated without.
The detailed folding plates include several illustrations of instruments for taking measurements of lunar and solar
eclipses. Other plates depict the observations, all taken at Nuremberg, of the solar eclipse measurements on May 3rd
1715; total lunar eclipse of 29 June 1722; partial lunar eclipse of 22nd December; and total lunar eclipse of 29th of
June in the same year (plate 9).
Johann Leonhard Rost (1688-1727), who had studied under Wurzelbaur, led a relatively private life in
Nuremberg where he occupied himself with astronomical observations and the construction, design and use of
improved astronomical instruments for precise measurements of eclipses. He was a correspondent with the Berlin
Academy and would also publish a well-regarded astronomical atlas in 1727 (Atlas portatilis coelestis).
With the minor exception of the early repair on the inner blank margin of the title page, a very fine, uncut, wide
margined copy bound in its original interim stiff gray paper flexible boards as issued from the printer.
§ Dünnhaupt 30.2; Houzeau-Lancaster I, 8848. Poggendorff II, 701; Crawford Library, Edinburgh, p. 391.
“FIRST KNOWN ATTEMPT AT A POETIC DICTIONARY”
31. TORRENTINUS, Hermannus. Elucidarius vel vocabularius poeticus ... continens fabulas, historias, provincias,
urbes, insulas, fluvios & montes illustres. Item vocabula et interpretationes Grecorum & Hebraicorum: unacum
vocabulus co[m]munibus saracenorum in latinum translatis: & alijs in fine adiunctis. Hagenau: Henrich Gran for
Joannis Rynman, 1518. 4to, [57] leaves. Woodcut four part border with printer's device of H. Gran and arms of
Hagenau incorporated in bottom section; woodcut initials; some light foxing in margins of last few leaves; overall a
very nice copy. Modern boards.
$975
The Elucidarius was the "first known attempt at a poetic dictionary" (Renouard); it was the most popular
dictionary of ancient mythology and fables of the 16th century and frequently reprinted (1st: 1498). Hermannus
Torrentinus (van der Beeke: ca.1450 - ca. 1520) was a Dutch grammarian who taught at Hegius' famous school in
Deventer where Erasmus had been a student.
The Elucidarius, arranged in a strictly alphabetical order, is still a useful mine of information; including literary
references to the various provinces, cities, islands, mountains and rivers. This version has been enlarged with a
supplement on Latin numbers, weights, calculating in Latin, long lists of trees and bushes, herbs, gems and stones
and the liberal arts. It is interesting to note that in the list of trees and herbs, etc. the German equivalent is also
included. Intended, no doubt, to increase its appeal to the local German students.
Because of the works popularity it was frequently reprinted, probably in relatively small editions as they were
needed at the local schools. This fact and because it was a popular students reference and study text—leading to the
heavy use for most copies—has made all early editions scarce.
§ VD 16, T 1606; Benzing, Hagenau 39, 184; see Buisson, Ouvrages pédag. P. 631 (other Hagenau eds.).
19
SPANISH HUMANISM
32. VENEGAS, Alejo. Agonia del tra[n]sito de la muerte co[n] los auisos y co[n]suelos q[ue] cerca d'lla so[n]
puechosos [WITH] (Breve declaracion de las sentecias y vocablos obscuros, que en el libro
del transito de la muerte se hallan, escripta por el mismo autor Alexio Venegas etc.). Alcala
de Henares: Andres de Angulo for Diego de Sancta Cruz, 1565. Small 4to, 2 parts in 1
volume. [8], 216 (i.e. 218) in Roman numerals; gothic letter; large woodcut coat of arms of the
Condesa de Melito, the dedicatee, on title-page; has half title and large woodcut arms on leaf
155 verso of Doña Mencia de Ávalos, the dedicatee of the second part; neat repairs to top
inner margin of first 3 leaves (affecting 3 or 4 words on verso of title-page, A word on the 2nd
leaf and slightly affecting title woodcut); minor paper flaw in blank margin of leaf 66; some
early marginal annotations. 19th century half calf.
$2250
Seventh edition. "This work, which refers to the afterlife, and was first published in 1537,
is regarded as a fine example of Spanish literature, the subject presenting considerable
difficulties in phraseology, considering the general spiritual and mental standard of the period"
(cf. Maggs, Spanish Books no. 1059).
This is the best known work of the Spanish humanist, Alejo Venegas (1498 or 1499-1562),
who was a great admirer of Erasmus. The Praeparatio ad mortem, published by Erasmus in
1534, was a major influence for the present work. The second volume, which was later added
as an aid to the reader in interpreting the text, first appeared in the third edition of 1543; it is
illustrated with a large woodcut arms and preface.
§ BM/STC Spanish p. 212; Palau 351.602; Martín Abad. Alcalá de Henares, II, 640.
CABBALA - ALCHEMY - CHEMISTRY - ROSICRUCIANS - ILLUSTRATIONS
33. WELLING, Georg von. Opus mago-cabbalisticum et theosophicum, darinnen der Ursprung, Natur, Eigenschafften
und Gebrauch des Saltzes, Schwefels und Mercurii, in dreyen Theilen beschrieben wird. Homburg vor der Höhe
(Bad Homburg): Gedruckt bey Joh Phillip Helwig, 1735. 4to, [8], 582, [22] pp. With 15 (13 folding) engraved
plates; title printed in red and black; some very light toning and foxing; the
plates, which were printed on a better paper, are in fine fresh condition.
Contemporary calf, gilt spine (some wear).
$3500
"This work by Welling was extremely popular during the 18th century
... The work was augmented in the later editions, being extended to deal
with the nature of Salt, Sulphur and Mercury in the scheme of Nature. The
text is a mixture of precise details of working with physical substances and
a deep philosophical and kabbalistic account of the principles of the world
and its emanation in the Creation.... Welling was influenced by his reading
of Paracelsus (thence his focus on the three principles), the kabbalah (his
figures were probably influenced by the Lurianic cosmological diagrams in
Knorr von Rosenroth's Kabbala denudata,...) and the hermetic mysticism
of Jakob Boehme" (The Silent Language, The Symbols of Hermetic
Philosophy, Exhibition in the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica
[Amsterdam; 1994], no. 47).
This is the enlarged third edition (first edition: Frankfurt, 1719) which
is the first complete version of this collection of chemical-alchemical and
cabalistic texts. The preface, signed "C.S.", is dated 7 January 1735. The
first text, Welling's detailed description on the use of salt, first appeared in
1719 under the pseudonym of Gregorius Anglus Sallwight. The other texts
deal with chemistry, alchemy, the Cabbala, astronomy and against magic:
"andere Stellen aber lassen ihn doch als gläubigen Anhänger der
Goldmacherei erkennen" (Schelenz). The work is illustrated with very fine
plates: "This learned work contains 15 fine Cabbalistic plates, some of which Jennings has reproduced in his work
on the Rosicrucians, without any knowledge of their authorship" (Gardner). The symbolism used in the plates is
described in some detail in the article on this work in The Silent Language (p. 76 with illus.) cited above.
The appendix includes the following alchemical tracts: "Thom Hensing, Discurs von dem Stein der Wisen" (p.
517); "Alchymische Fragen von dem Universali und den Particularibus" (p. 532); "Auszug aus dem Lateinischen
Manusceript, Manna Coeleste, das himmlische Manna genannt" (p. 549); "Franciscus Sebast. Fulvus Melvolodemet,
Pisanus, non plus ultra Veritatis, das ist: Eine Untersuchung der Hermetischen Wissenschaft" (p. 556); "George
Ripley, Lied von dem neugebohrnen Chymischen Koenig" (p. 578).
20
"Welling, according to Kopp, was born, 1652, in the county Weissenhorn in Swabia, was director of construction
and mines for Baden-Durlach, and 'Consistorial President'; he resigned his official position in 1723, and retired to
Bockenheim near Frankfurt a. M., where he died in 1727. A man of culture and independent thought but very
superstitious" (Thorndike).
§ Brüning 4241; Gardner 576; Schelenz 212; Ferchl 573; Rosenthal 904; Ferguson II, 543; Kopp, Die Alchemie
II, 240; Gilly-H. 76; cf. Duveen 616. Hoover 872; Caillet 11398 (1760 ed.)