BUSSATO, MARCO.  Giardino di agricoltura...nel quale, con bellissimo ordine, si tratta di tutto quello, che s'appartiene a sapere a un perfetto Giardiniero... Venice: Bartolomeo Carampello, 1593. 

16th century illustrated work by Ravenna author Marco Bussato on the art of horticulture, agriculture, and other sciences related to vinegrowing and tree-care. This is the second edition; the first was published a year prior. The twenty full-page wood-cuts (one repeat) that embellish the work show the various tools used in working the land as well as methods of pruning, grafting, and the like. There is also a section at the end that describes the monthly tasks throughout the year such as sowing, reaping, feasting, winepressing, butchering, etc, along with wood-cuts at the head of each month. Large ex-libris book-plate to verso of front endpaper, small embossed library stamp to leaf 71; tape mark to bottom margin of A4; title-page reinforced at head with repair; ownership inscriptions on recto of front endpaper; a few small paper repairs or tiny holes with very slight loss of text, a bit of glue from removed library card pouch on rear endpaper. Large 8vo (20 x 15cm), [iv], 71, [iii] leaves. Bound in contemporary vellum. 

$1,500.00

Biblia Sacra quid in hac editione a theologis Lovaniensibus. Antwerp: Plantin, 1583. 

Called by Voet one of the most beautiful books to come from the Plantin Press, this monumental Bible employed copper-plate illustrations extensively at a time when wood-cut illustrations were still frequently used as a result of their easier handling. The large folio format, combined with the large margins and high-quality paper, shows that the Plantin Press spared no expense in the production of this work, which was financed in part by the King of Spain. Some of the engravings were reused from earlier works, including the large double-page map of the world. 36 of the illustration were specially cut for this edition. Artists involved in the work include Jan Wiericx, Jan de Sadeler, and A. de Bruyn after Crispin van den Broeck and Peter van der Borcht. The translation into Latin was the work of Louvain School, which in the 16th century was one of the most prestigious Catholic institutions of higher learning. The 16th century saw a rise in interest for accurate and scholarly translations, and this work certainly strove to appeal to serious scholars, both in terms of its revised translation as well as its copious notes at the end (117 pages of them!). The text is not divided into verses (except in the poetical books), but the verse numbers are given in the central margin. Marginal references also include notes of variant readings and cross-references. This particular copy has been rubricated throughout; a previous owner seeming to treat it like a medieval manuscript. He also added short introductions in Latin and red letters in the margins, presumably for study purposes or perhaps for ease of public reading in a church or monastery. The result is a very unique and beautiful presentation of the text. The two illustrations of Adam & Eve seem to have fallen under a censor's hand with vestments painted on them. This copy does not include the short dedication to Cardinal Albert, often absent due to religious controversies in the city of Antwerp at the time. Aside from that, the book is complete with 7 full-page plates, 3 double-page maps, and 2 double-page diagrams, together with 81 engravings in the text. One engraving in text was smeared in printing process. The double-map map of the world is backed with cloth. A few paper repairs, but overall this important work is in excellent condition and is still rare in institutions. Rebound in 19th or 20th-century full morocco with blind-ruling. All edges gilt. Large Folio (42 x 30pp), [1200], 117pp. [Voet, L. Plantin press (1555-1589), 690]

$6,000.00

[ITALIAN STATUTES] Statuta communitatis S. Columbani et sue iurisdictionis. Lodi: Apud Vincentium Taietum, 1586. An extraordinarily rare book printed in the Lombard town of Lodi regarding the statutes and governance of the little munciplaity of San Colombano al Lambro near Milan. The Duke of Milan held an estate in this district, and the statutes were initially issued by his order in 1432. They were later adopted by the municipal authorities of Pavia, for the control of the sale of bread, wine, meat and fish. There were very severe penalities enacted for publicans guilty of giving short measure or adding water to wine. A printing press was first established in Lodi in 1583 by Francesco Bonati; in 1584 he was replaced by Vincenzo Taieti, who published the work offered here. The beautiful wood-cut on the title-page is of the Celtic Saint, St. Columba, who travelled to the region in the early Middle Ages and for whom the municipality is named after. I have been able to locate only one copy outside of Italy. Folio (28.6 x 20cm), [6], 35 [i.e.41], [1] leaves. Stain and repair to upper corner of title-page, a few light spots in text. Bound in modern limp vellum with ties, housed in clam-shell box. [BBII, 624; BG 1137] 

$3,500.00



PSEUDO-DIONYSIUS [EDITED BY: JACQUES LEFEVRE D'ETAPLES (1450-1536)]. Theologia vivificans. Cibus solidus. Dionysii Celestis hierarchia. Ecclesiastica hierarchia. Divina nomina. Mystica theologia. Undecim epistole. Ignatii. Undecim epistole. Polycarpi Epistola una. In alma Parhisiorum schola [Paris]: Per Ioannem Higmanu[m] et Volfgangu[m] Hopylium [Johannes Higman and Wolfgang Hopyl], 6 Februrary 1498. 

The Editio Princeps of French humanist and scholar Jacques Lefevre d'Etaples's edition of Pseudo-Dionysius with his extensive commentary and diagrams. This incunable also includes the editio princeps of the Latin version of the letters of the early Church Father St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 35 - 108 A.D.). D'Etaples decision to prepare and publish the works of Pseudo-Dionysius was no doubt inspired by his encounter with Italian Renaissance philosophers Marsilio Ficino and Pico della Mirandola, whom he met during his trip to Italy in 1491-2. Both were part of a wide Platonist revival that fit in very nicely with an increased focus on the mysterious 6th century Neo-Platonist theologian. The fact that the author of the Pseudo-Dionysian corpus was confused with the Dionysius who met St. Paul in the Acts of the Apostles only lent more authority to the author of these works. During the period of this publication, D'Etaples was teaching at the College of Cardinal Lemoine and used the best manuscripts available to compare and revise the text. The Latin translation used was that of Ambrogio Traversari, completed in 1436. D'Etaples substitutes Traversari's brief notes with his own extensive commentary. The printers, John Higman and Wolfgang Hopyl formed a partnership in 1496, after having worked separately in Paris for several years prior. Higman was a German from Meissen who graduated from the University of Paris in 1478 and went to work at the press of Ulrich Gering. Hopyl was from the Netherlands and focused on academic and liturgical works. Although each kept their own shop in Paris, their collaboration produced the early works of D'Etaples, among other projects. Henri Estienne, the famous 16th-century printer of Paris, married Higman's widow, Guyone Viart, and likely learned the printing craft under the mentorship of Higman, or Hopyl, or both. The fine woodcut border on the title-page is uniquely theirs. Rubricated initials throughout. A beautifully printed work using Gothic rotunda type; sixteen wood-cut diagrams in text, including an astronomical figure on leaf 87, and a very attractive title-page depicting two eagles. Bound in new limp vellum with ties. Lacking last blank, but otherwise complete. Extensively restored and repaired. Title-page with paper repairs, some words at bottom of recto and verso affected. The first five leaves with smaller paper repairs at bottom margins with loss of a few words. Occasional staining, heaviest on lower margin of the first ten or so leaves. Last five leaves with small paper repairs and loss of a few words including colophon. Occasional bleeding of colored initials. A bit of marginalia in an antique hand, contemporary ownership inscription on title-page.  4to (28 x 22cm), [iv], 117 leaves. Small portion of final blank present. [Hain-Copinger, 6233 - Goff, D-240 - Pr., 8140 - BMC, VIII, 140 - GW, 8409 - Pellechet, 4297 - Polain, 1302 - Pettegree, 65111 - Brunet, II, 724 - Graesse, II, 399 - Dionysiaca, p. xxiii, n ° 6 - Charles-Henri Graf, Essay on the life and the writings of Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples, Strasbourg, 1842, pp. 18-19 - Eugene R. Rice, The Prefatory Epistles of Jacques Lefevre of Etaples and related texts, New York, 1972, pp. 65-66 and pp. 549-550, nr. CLV.]

$3,500.00

CHRISTOPHE DE LONGUEIL (1488-1522). Christophori Longolii civis Romani perduellionis rei defensiones duae. Paris: Venundantur in officina Badiana, 1520. A very rare work from the brief but stormy career of French Renaissance humanist Christophe de Longueil. Longueil spent considerable time in Rome in the early 16th century, but his formerly strongly pro-French writings, with a tinge of anti-Romanism, created problems for him in the Eternal City. The work published here is a personal defense that Longueil felt compelled to make on his own behalf in front of the Roman authorities in order to prove his allegiance to Rome, and includes praise for Roman culture and history. I could locate only one copy of this 1520 Paris edition in U.S. institutions. A 1519 edition was published in Rome and is held by at least the Newberry Library, but it certainly lacks the new preface included here and perhaps the second oration. Small 8vo (17 x 11cm), 59 leaves. Lovely wood-cut on title-page. Library stamp on title-page and in margin of one other leaf. Some occasional damp-staining in margins. Bound in modern quarter vellum over boards. [ref. Moreau II:2402. - Renouard (Impr.) 453. - Not in Adams, Machiels, BL, NUC. Prov. Libr. stamps.]

$750.00



ERASMUS. Modus orandi Deum. Nuremberg: Johann Petreius, 1525. 

An early edition of Erasmus' treatise on prayer, first published in 1524 by Froben in Basel. Over the next couple years editions appeared in Cologne, Strasbourg, Mainz, and Nuremberg. The work is important in terms of Erasmus' reforming efforts - he tries to emphasize prayer free from a mechanistic or supersititious attitudes and done in a language that the faithful can understand. 8vo (16 x 10cm), 43 leaves. Lacking last blank. Rebound in 19th century calf with spine rebacked; a bit too tight on the inner margin, but full text can be read. Book-plates to front endpapers. Pencil notation that states this is book is from the library of the great French philosopher Auguste Comte, but there are no other indications to substantiate this notation. Quite a rare edition of Erasmus. [Vander Haeghen I, 121; Bezzel, 1289]

$1,750.00

NONNUS OF PANOPOLIS (c. 400 A.D.). Nonnou poietou Panopolitou metabole tou kata Ioannen hagiou evangeliou. Paris: Apud Martinum Iuvenem, 1556. A paraphrase in poetic form of the Gospel of St. John by Hellenized Egyptian poet Nonnus of Panopolis. Little is known about Nonnus aside from the fact that he is the author of two important works, an epic tale of the god Dionysius and the Paraphase offered here. Scholars have argued that the Paraphase must have been a later work, perhaps following Nonnus' conversion to the Christian faith. It appears that from the Paraphrase that Nonnus was familiar with St. Cyril of Alexandria's commentary on St. John. This copy, which was previously held by the Ashmolean Library, formerly belogned to Sir John Davidson Beazley (1885-1970), the renowned classical archaeologist. Notes in ink cover the first fly-leaf, but it is unknown whether they are Beazley's or an earlier owner's. There is also a marginal note in an antique hand at chapter eight which mentions the absence of the Woman Caught in Adultery episode in Nonnus' work. Chapter numbers of the Gospel are penned in very neat small numbers at the head of each page. Leaves occasionally toned throughout. Ex-libris plates on front endpaper, three very small library stamps to interior. 8vo (16.5 x 11cm), 168pp. Bound in calf, rebacked with morocco label. A bit of wear to corners.

$1,000.00

CASTIGLIONE, BALDASSARRE (1478-1529). Il libro del cortegiano del conte Baldesar Castiglione, nuovamente stampato, et con somma diligenza revisto. Venice: Aldo Manuzio, 1541.

Aldine reprint of the Castiglione's famous Book of the Courtier, first published by the press in 1528. This very popular book underwent many editions and translation, and epitomized the courtly manners required of the Renaissance Man or Woman, emphasizing the values appreciated in the day, such as eloquence in speech, familiarity with good literature, and a refined urbanity. This shift from the Medieval ideal of chivalry is quite marked and is a notable change in the development of European society which was now defined by the humanistic ideal. Large Aldine mark on title-page. Text printed in italics. 8vo (15.5 x 11cm), [iv], 195 leaves. Damp-stain to title-page and first leaf, a few antique notes in margins, otherwise quite clean throughout. Bound in limp vellum, small chip to spine. Quite a nice copy.  [Renouard I, S. 293, 8; not in Adams.]

$1,500.00

EMPEROR DAWIT II OF ETHIOPIA [LEBNA DENGEL] (1496-1540). Legatio David Aethiopiae Regis, ad Sanctissimum D. N. Clementem Papa VII. una cum obedientia...Eiusdem David Aethiopiae Regis Legatio, ad Emanuelem Portugalliae Regem. Item alia legatio eiusdem David Aethiopiae Regis, ad Ioannem Portugalliae Regem... Bologna: Apud Iacobum Kemolen Alostensem, 1533. Important correspondence between the Emperor of Ethiopia, Dawit II, and the kings of Portugal, requesting military aid again the Turks and pledging fealty to the Pope at Rome. "The letters were brought back to Lisbon by the Ethiopian envoy Zagazabo at the end of Roderigo de Lima's embassy in 1527; they were then translated into Portuguese by Alvarez, who subsequently presented the Latin text for publication in Bologna" (Bonhams). Title-page with small portion excised from bottom margin. 4to (19.5 x 15cm), 18 leaves, lacking F2 and F3. Stains to a few leaves, several tears, but only minimal textual loss. Unbound pamphlet.

$1,000.00