Category: Rare Books

November 5, 2009

MAGNIFICENT AND VERY TALL COPY OF THE GREAT RENAISSANCE TOURNAMENT BOOK

PRINTED 1566: ROLL-TOLLED BLINDSTAMPED PIGSKIN WITH CLASPS

121 woodcut scenes of tournaments, including two double-page (repeat)

The Book:

Rüxner, Georg. Thurnier Buch; von Anfang, Vrsachen, Vrsprung vnd Herkommen der Thurnier im Heyligen Römischen Reich Teutscher Nation, wie viel offentlicher Landthurnier von Keyser Heinrich dem Ersten dieses Namens an biss auff den jetztregierenden Keyser Maximilian den Andern … vnd in welchen Stetten die alle gehalten … Alles jetzunder von neuwem zusammen getragen, mit schönen neuwen Figuren, sonderlich auch der adelischen Wappen, auffs schönest zugericht … Published: Franckfurt am Mayn, Getruckt [bey G. Raben in Verlegung S. Feyrabends vnd S. Hüters] 1566. Description: FOLIO. 311 x 200 mm, 3 parts in one volume, [6], ccxliii, [3], [4], lxxxi ℓ. : illus., coats of arms ; A number of the woodcuts are attributed to Jost Amman and signed “I.A.”; other woodcuts signed “H.B.” have been assigned to Hans Bocksperger, but this is doubrful/Contemporary pigskin over wooden boards, roll-tooled in blind, 2 brass fore-edge catches without clasps, remnants of gilt to blindstamped title, slight wear to head of spine and corners, some light browning, a few minor red highlights, some occasional staining and browning. Overall, a very fine COMPLETE copy. Brunet IV:1471; Adams R-877. Provenance: Henning von Bulow Goldenbow von Rodenwalde: bookplate dated 1916  [$12,000]

A MAGNIFICENT AND VERY TALL copy of one of the most important tournament books and certainly the most widely read. This is the third edition, but more importantly, the FIRST ILLUSTRATED BY JOST AMMAN. The new woodcuts are added along with much additional material contained in two further parts, each with its own title page. “The second part describes tournaments and games held at Vienna from 2 May to 24 June in an unspecified year in the 1560s, and part three describes the ceremonial entrance into Binche of Charles V and his sons on 22 August 1549.” (Ref: Christie’s). This edition contains a roster of all the competitors at that very famous Renaissance Tournament.

posted in: Rare Books

November 5, 2009

NEWLY DISCOVERED DIPLOMA OF THE INFLUENTIAL 17th CENTURY ITALIAN, LUDOVICO INCONTRI

ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM; CONNECTED WITH GALILEO

Manuscript:

[Illuminated Manuscript in Latin on Vellum] [Ludovico Attilo Incontri] PATENTI NOBILIARI E LAUREE; Diploma di Laurea. Pisa, 1626. 225 x 165 mm. 6 ff., i.e. 10 pages. Illuminated opening coat of arms, illuminated throughout in pure gold lettering, wax seal. Very fine 17th century Italian goatskin binding with elaborate gold tooling. Complete.

This manuscript is a highly important diploma of Ludovico Attilo Incontri. The Incontri Family had its origins in Volterra. Ludovico Attilio Incontri, who eventually settled in Florence after his education in Pisa, held many important roles in 17th century Italian political life. The Palazzo Incontri, which was acquired by the Incontri family in 1676, still stands next to the Duomo in Florence. Ludovico Attilo Incontri was also connected with Galileo’s circle and likely knew him from the rich intellectual milieu of Pisa. Surviving letters between the two show Lodovico Incontri sent Galileo “two flasks of sour cherry wine from La Pietraia”, inviting him to inform His Highness should he desire others. On May 9, 1638, Galileo declared he was willing to visit the Grand Duke who was staying at the villa. [See: Galileo Galilei, Eugenio Albèri, Celestino Bianchi, Vincenzio Viviani., Le opere di Galileo Galilei, Vol. X. Florence, 1853]

Partial Transcript:

“IN DEI NOMINE AMEN: IULIANUS MEDICES, Dei et Apostolicae sedis gratia Archiepiscopus Pisanus, Insularum Sardiniae et Corsicae Primas, et dicte sedis Apostolicae in eis Legatus natus, nec non Pisani Almi Gymnasii Apostolica Cesareaque authoritate Cancellarius; eoque in infrascripto actu absente, NOS BENEDICTUS Leolus Pisanus, I. U. D., Archidiaconus Primatialis Ecclesiae Pisarum Prothonotarius Apostolicus, Vicarius ac Locumtenens generalis ab eo ad infrascripta omnia et singula specialiter constitutus et deputatus; universis et singulis presentes nostras inspecturis salutem in Domino sempiternam. Cum, inter ceteras in toto orbe terrarum venerandas et famosas Academias et clarissimorum Doctorum Universitates, Pisana multis ornamentis et privilegiis honestata maxime fulgeat, in qua etiam ad Doctoratus et Magisterii publicam et eminentem dignitatem, Pontificia et Caesarea authoritate, sublimantur et extolluntur illi quos, longo exercitio, labore, studio, disciplina et ingenio, summis vigiliis, omni denique conatu et nixu, spretis et relictis voluptatum illecebris, se se doctrinae penitus dantes, sacras et pene divinas Canonicam Civilemque scientias adeptos, maximis laudibus ac verissimis testimoniis accurate reperit probatissimos, et quos certamen generalis et rigorosi examinis, coram Nobis et Venerando Iurisconsultorum Collegio, per concurrentem virtutum copiam meritorumque excellentiam ita promovet ut doctoreis infulis, privilegiis, prerogativis, honoribus et dignitatibus veniant decorandi; Cum itaque egregius ac eruditus Vir, moribus modestus, ingenio acatissimus, doctrina preditus et scientiarum cognitione praeclarus, Adm: RDominus Ludovicus Incontrius Patritius Volaterranus Fil per Illustrius Dominus Attilii, Equitis D. Stephanus, ac Prioris Austrie qui, sua florente etate, in caeleberrimo PISANO Gymnasio per quinquennium, assiduis exercitatus vigiliis, in Pontificio et Caesareo sollicitam et curiosam operam iugiter impendit et navavit, scholasticosque actus arguendo, conferendo, disputando et exercendo, de hinc fuerit legittime coram Nobis Vicario et Vicecancellario prefato presentatus per Mag.cos et Eximios Viros, in Utraque Censura Doctores, Excell.mos Dominum … ”

Auction Records for comparison:

1. PATENTI NOBILIARI E LAUREE – Laurea in Diritto Canonico e Civile a Sebastiano Cuzardo. MANOSCRITTO MINIATO SU PERGAMENA, Messina, 1627. 8°. 200 x 145 mm. 4 carte. ($9,395) Sale 2490 libri autografi e stampe 15 June 2006. See: http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=4732877&sid=7359d83a-2022-4897-b704-140b36442f75


2. PATENTI NOBILIARI E LAUREE – Officium et Dignitatem Doctoratus et magisterij in Lib. Art. et Sac.Medicina licentia…Exc.mo D.Ioannes Franciscus Polentzi Silesius Cilcensis. Bologna, 1683. ($16,372) Sale 2475 libri e autografi 15 December 2005 Rome. See: http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=4637405&sid=7359d83a-2022-4897-b704-140b36442f75

posted in: Rare Books

October 8, 2009

A MAGNIFICENT LARGE COPY OF ALDUS’ 1524 HOMER

IN AN EXTREMELY RARE UNRESTORED, CONTEMPORARY 16th CENTURY VENETIAN GOATSKIN BINDING

The Book:

HOMER (8th century B.C.). Odyssey in Greek.Odysseia. Batrachomyomachia. Hymnoi = Vlyssea. Batrachomyomachia. Hymni. XXXII.[Venetiis : in Aedibvs Aldi, et Andreae Asvlani Soceri, M.D.XXIIII. mense Aprili] Printer’s device on the title page; verso of the final leaf. Imprint from the colophon. Spaces with guide letters for the capitals. 8vo., 251 [1] leaves ; 17 cm, a LARGE COPY with 164 mm sheets, small inner gutter wormhole, not affecting text (visible when fully opening book) running from 139-166, light dampstain to lower margin of last few leaves. Last appearance of the second Aldine Anchor device. Magnificent Contemporary Blind and gold-tooled brown goatskin binding, boards detached and unrestored, some worming to boards near hinges, but overall very good. Internally, generally a clean, complete and very good copy. As Aldine editions of Homer were considered great and coveted classics by bibliophiles, copies were almost invariably cut and rebound in the 18th and 19th centuries in handsome calf or morocco. Copies in 16th century contemporary bindings are very sought after,

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posted in: Rare Books

September 21, 2009

The First Work of Fantasy and a Newly Published One- an arc from 1541 to the present

The Book:

Lucian, of Samosata. I Dialogi piacevoli, le Vere Narrationi, le Facete Epistole di Lvciano Philosopho. Di Greco in Volgare tradotte per M. Nicolo da Lonigo: et historiate, e di nuovo… emendate. Published: Venetia : [Giovanni de Farri e Fratelli], 1541. 8vo., 16 x 11 cm., 223 ff., Publisher’s statement from colophon. Signatures: A-2E⁸. Leaves 49, 51, 53, 55, 81, 120, and 221 are misnumbered 17, 19, 21, 23, 80, 121, and 121, respectively. Leaves 9-40, and 57-112 are numbered in roman numerals. Charmingly illustrated with woodcuts depicting a sea monster flanked by the Pillars of Hercules to commence the journey, Charon’s boats loaded with souls destined for hell etc. 18th century full calf binding with marbled endpapers, gilt spine, red morocco spine label, wear to hinges. Internally, some staining to t.p., occasional browning, but generally a VERY GOOD COMPLETE and well-margined copy.

“Lucian of Samosata was an Assyrian rhetorician, and satirist who wrote in the Greek language. Le Vere Narrationi, A True History, parodied some fantastic tales told by Homer in the Odyssey. Lucian anticipated “modern” fictional themes like voyages to the moon and Venus, extraterrestrial life and wars between planets centuries before Jules Verne and H. G. Wells or Douglas Adams. His novel is widely regarded as an early, if not the earliest science fiction work. [Ref: Wikipedia].

Typographically, the book is a remarkable example of the sensitive integration of text and image prevalent in mid 16th century Venetian printing. The fine, delightful and classically inspired woodcuts not only illustrate, but serve as chapter headings to the volgaris text. The Italian vernacular was in fact quickly gaining ground in printing as a language with a new expressiveness and imagery that exceeded the hi-brow scholarly Latin of the day.

The work’s linguistic inventiveness, the placement of its illustrations, as well as the fantastic tale to another world, brought to my mind a parallel with a newly released book by my brilliant neighbor, Daniel Rabuzzi. His work, The Choir Boats, was reviewed as “a significant contribution to the field of fantasy” and I would highly encourage anybody who reads my blog to purchase a copy. Daniel’s wife, the artist Deborah Mills, contributed the lovely chapter illustrations, and I could imagine back in 16th century Venice, the Farri family of scholars, artists and publishers engaged in a similar collaboration to produce a labor of love. The Choir Boats, with its highly imaginative use of language, echoes a style of magical fantasy that was written in centuries past and which is more than worth delving into today.

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And photos from Daniel Rabuzzi’s remarkable work:

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posted in: Rare Books, Recommendations

September 11, 2009

A Gold Mine of early first millennium Gnostic, Jewish and Christian beliefs


PRINTED 1599: THE RENAISSANCE REDISCOVERY OF THE SIBYLLINE ORACLES

Contemporary Mille Fleurs Bookbinding

The Book:

Opsopoeus, Johannes Sivylliakoi chrēsmoi hoc est Sibyllina oracvla ex uett. codd. aucta, renouata, et notis illustrata a d. Iohanne Opsopoeo … Cum interpretatione latina Sebastiani Castalionis et indice. Published: Parisijs. Cum preuilegio regis. 1599. Description: 4 Book in 1; ; 8 p. ℓ., 524, 71 (i.e. 73), [2] p., 1 ℓ., 7-144 p., 1 ℓ., vii-xxiiii, 114, [5] p. illus. 8vo., 18 x 13 cm. Notes: Title engraved within ornamental border containing publishers’ device of the Compagnie de la Grand’ Navire; border signed by K. van Mallery, engraver. (Karel van Mallery was an engraver and printdealer in Antwerp, he was a student of Philip Galle and married his daughter Catharina Galle in 1598) Greek and Latin on opposite pages.
“Oracvla magica Zoroastris” (1 ℓ., 7-144 p.) and “Oracvla metrica … a Iohanne Opsopoeo collecta. Item Astrampsychi Oneirocriticon à Ios. Scaligero digestum & castigatum” (1 ℓ., vii-xxiiii, 114, [5] p.) have secondary signatures, separate paging, and special t.-p. with publishers’ device. Early calf and With elaborate gilt Mille Fleurs design, hinges with some wear as depiected, but holding strong, some bumping to corners, a few spots,
but generally a VERY GOOD COMPLETE COPY.

This is the most significant 16th century edition of the Sibylline oracles, who rediscovery in the Renaissance caused a sensation and whose influence upon Renaissance literature has not been fully investigated in modern times. Newfound interest in the oracles has also taken route as they are viewed as valuable sources for information about early first millennium Gnostic, Jewish and Christian beliefs. Notable in the oracles are apocalyptic passages scattered throughout which at times seem like early draft of the Biblical Book of Revelation.

“The Sibylline Oracles (sometimes called the “pseudo-Sibylline Oracles”) are a collection of oracular utterances written in Greek hexameters ascribed to the Sibyls, prophetesses who uttered divine revelations in a frenzied state. Twelve books of Sibylline Oracles survive. These are not considered to be the famous Sibylline Books of Roman history, which have been lost, but a collection of utterances that were composed under various circumstances from the middle of the second century to the fifth century AD.”

“Large collections of these Jewish and Christian oracles are still in existence. When they were recovered in the 16th century, their initial publication caused a sensation among scholars. In 1545 Xystus Betuleius (Sixt Birck of Augsburg) published at Basel an edition of eight books of oracles with a preface dating from perhaps the sixth century AD, and the next year a version set in Latin verse appeared. Better manuscripts were used by Johannes Opsopoeus (Johannes Koch), whose edition appeared at Paris in 1599.” [Ref: Wikipedia]

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posted in: Rare Books