The first book printed in the Ge’ez language [Bible. Old Testament. Psalms. Ethiopic]. Psalterium David et Cantica aliqua. Marcello Silber for Johannes Potken, 30 June - 10 September 1513. 4° (225x160 mm). Collation: [1-128, 13-146]. [108] leaves. Ethiopic and roman type. Printed in black and red. On the recto of the first leaf full-page woodcut showing David crowned, with a harp in his hand and... € 52.000 share +
In original speaking-binding [Scriptores de re rustica]. Libri de re rustica, M. Catonis, M. Terentii Varronis, L. Iunii Moderati Columellę, Palladii Rutilii: quorum summam pagina sequens indicabit. Josse Bade, 30 April 1529. Folio (333x214 mm). Collation: Aa6, A8, B6, a-t8, v6, x8. [40], 311, [21] pages. Roman type. Title-page within an elaborate woodcut architectural border, including putti, grotesque figures, antique vases and cuirasses,... € 13.500 share +
The exquisite taste of an Italian collector. Natalizio Benedetti’s Tarot of Mantegna. The so-called ‘Mantegna Tarocchi’. . Set of fifty engravings, by the Masters of the Tarocchi. Northern Italy (possibly Ferrara), before 1467. Fifty plates (platemarks 178x101 mm, and similar; each leaf, with margins, measuring 199x127 mm). Forty-eight plates from the E-series (Hind 1a-18a, 20a-31a, 33a-50a; Bartsch 18A-35A, 37A-48A, 50A-67A); two from the... € 900.000 share +
The first book printed by the Medici Oriental Press [Bible. Gospels. Arabic]. Evangelium sanctum Domini Nostri Iesu Christi conscriptum a quatuor Evangelistis sanctis idest, Matthaeo, Marco, Luca, et Iohanne. Medici Oriental Press, 1590 - 1591. Folio (309x203 mm). Collation: [1-46]4. 386 pages. Text in Arabic. Title-page in Arabic and Latin. Title-page and text within frame of woodcut fillets. 149 large woodcuts (130x100 mm), from sixty-eight blocks,... € 9.500 share +
A pocket vernacular edition, illustrated with 151 woodcuts . Herbolario Volgare: nel quale se dimostra conoscer le herbe: et le sue virtu: et il modo di operarle: con molti altri simplici: di novo venute in luce: et di latino in volgare tradutte: con gli suoi repertorii da ritrovar le herbe: et li rimedij alle infirmita in esso contenute... . Venice, Giovanni Maria Palamides, 31July 1539. 8° (154x101 mm). Collation: AA6, A-X8, Y6. [6], 152, [22] leaves. Title-page in red and black, with a large woodcut vignette showing Saints Cosma and Damian. 151 woodcut illustrations depicting plants, all but two of which... share +
Skeletons, skulls, and bones [Funeral Bindings]. Missae in agenda defunctorum tantum deservientes. Ex Missali Romano recognito desumptae, cum Ordinario, et Canone, ut in ispis servatur: ad usum, et commoditatem omnium Ecclesiarum . Bologna, Giulio Borzagni, 1690. (offered together with:) Missae in agenda defunctorum tantum deservientes juxta usum Ecclesiae Romanae cum Ordine et Canone extensae. Bologna, Lelio dalla Volpe, 1744. Two works in folio. I. (350x234 mm). Collation: A12. 24... share +
Bordering on the fringes of heresy and the occult (pseud-) Gioacchino da Fiore. Vaticinia Pontificum. Illustrated manuscript on grey-blue paper, in Italian. Italy, end of the sixteenth century. 266x211 mm. 20 leaves. Complete. Five quires. Collation: 14+1, 24, 34+1, 44,52. Blanks fols. 1/5r and 5/2. Modern pencilled foliation (used here). Written in brown ink, in a unique hand. On the first leaf beneath the... € 40.000 share +
The Genoese nobility Fransone, Agostino (1573-1658). Nobiltà di Genoua di Agostino Fransone del fu Tomaso nobile Genouese all’Ill.mo & Ecc.mo signor prencipe Doria. Pietro Giovanni Calenzano and Giovanni Maria Farroni, 1636. Folio (476x357 mm). Six unnumbered engraved leaves, including author's portrait, the frontispiece bearing the coat of arms of the dedicatee, the dedication to the Prince Doria, the title-page, the coat-of-arms of the city of... € 11.000 share +
Aisopos. Esopo con la vita sua historiale vulgare & latino. Milano, Ulrich Schinzenzeler, 23 dicembre 1497. Due parti in un volume in 4° (mm 202x140). 107 [di 110] carte, mancando le carte e1, e6 e l’ultima carta bianca. 86 illustrazioni incise su legno. Lettere capitali silografiche su fondo nero. Al verso della carta i6... share +
Ulisse Aldrovandi. Monstrorum historia cum Paralipomenis historiae omnium animalium. Bartholomaeus Ambrosinus...Bononiae: typis Nicolai Tebaldini. , 1642. Due parti in un volume in-folio (mm 347x236). Pagine [8], 748, [28]; 159, [9]. Marca tipografica incisa su legno al verso dell'ultima carta. Frontespizio inciso su rame, con ritratto del dedicatario Ferdinando II. Capilettera... share +
Manzoni’s renewal of the Catholic faith Manzoni, Alessandro (1785-1873). Inni sacri di Alessandro Manzoni. Milano, Pietro Agnelli, 1815. 8° (200x127 mm). 37, [3] pages. Complete with the last blank leaf. Modern green half-morocco, marbled covers. A verygood, uncut copy. Light occasional foxing. Provenance: Giorgio Fanan (engraved ex libris on the front... € 3.000 share +
The first printed book on the astrolabe Andalus de Nigro (1270-1342). Opus astrolabii. Ed. Petrus Bonus Advogarius. Johann Picardus, de Hamell, 8 July 1475. Small folio (281x218 mm). Collation: [1-210]. 19 of [20] leaves, lacking the last blank leaf. Text in one column, 40 lines. Type: 1:101G. The first page decorated with a five line vinestem initial 'S', illuminated in... € 48.000 share +
The Mendoza Binder for the ambassador Benedetto Curzi Navagero, Andrea (1483-1529). Orationes duae, carminaque nonnulla. Giovanni Tacuino, 12 March 1530. Folio (283x198 mm). Collation: [π]2, a-b4, c2, d-f4, g2, h-k4, l6. [2], XLI, [1] leaves. Complete with the last blank leaf. Roman type. Woodcut vignette on the title-page, depicting a river god with the... € 52.000 share +
A milestone in the history of architecture Palladio, Andrea (1508-1580). I Quattro Libri dell’Architettura di Andrea Palladio. Ne’ quali, dopo un breue trattato de’ cinque ordini, & di quelli auertimenti, che sono piu necessarij nel fabricare; si tratta delle Case priuate, delle Vie, de i Ponti, delle Piazze, de i Xisti, et de’ Tempij. de' Franceschi Domenico, 1570. Four parts in one volume, folio (290x195 mm). Collation: A2, B-I4; AA-KK4 (quire HH misbound, in the sequence HH2, HH1, HH4, and HH3); AAA-FFF4; AAAA-RRRR4 (fol. FFFF1 signed EEEE1). 67, [1]; 78 (misnumbered... € 56.000 share +
The first public library of Liguria Aprosio, Angelico (1607-1681). La Biblioteca Aprosiana, Passatempo Autunnale di Cornelio Aspasio Antivigilmi, Trà Vagabondi di Tabbia detto l’Aggirato.... Manolessi for Giovanni Niccolò Cavanna, 1673. Two parts in one volume, 12° (137x69 mm). The two parts with running collation and foliation. Collation: a-b12, c6, A-Z12, Aa-Ee12, Ff6. [10], 733 [i.e. 683, pp. 337-386 omitted], [1] pages. Roman and italic type.... € 1.200 share +
The author, and the recipient of the book in the poet Molza’s villas; An association copy printed on blue paper Caro, Annibal (1507-1566). Apologia de gli Academici di Banchi di Roma, contra M. Lodouico Casteluetro da Modena. In forma d’uno Spaccio di Maestro Pasquino. Con alcune Operette del Predella, del Buratto, di Ser Fedocco.... Seth Viotti, November 1558. 4° (210x150 mm). Printed on blue paper. Collation: A-Z4, a-i4, k6, l-m4. 268, [16] pages. Roman and italic type. Engraved printer's device on the title-page and woodcut device on verso of fol. m4. Woodcut... € 24.000 share +
Defending Heliocentrism just nine years after the publication of Copernicus’ De revolutionibus Doni, Anton Francesco (1513-1574). I Marmi del Doni, Academico Peregrino. Al Mag.co et Eccellente S. Antonio da Feltro Dedicati. Francesco Marcolini, 1552 - 1553. Four parts in one volume, 4° (207x150 mm). Collation: A-X4; Aa-Pp4; a4, B-X4; AA-MM4. 167, [1]; 119, [1]; 166, [2]; 93, [3] pages. Italic type. Woodcut printer's device on last pages of each part within full-page... € 6.500 share +
Sausage ‘alla fiorentina’ Grazzini, Antonfrancesco (1504-1584). Lezione di Maestro Niccodemo dalla Pietra al Migliaio: Sopra il Capitolo della Salsiccia del Lasca. Domenico and Francesco Manzani, 1589. 8° (157x108 mm). Collation: A-D8. 60, [4] pages. Roman and italic type. Woodcut printer's device on the title-page and on the verso of the last leaf. Later vellum over pasteboards. Spine with four raised bands, with... € 2.800 share +
A fine association copy, gifted by the author to the Italian historian Francesco Saverio Quadrio Vallisneri, Antonio (1661-1730). Opere diverse... cioe: I. Istoria del Camaleonte Affricano, e di varj Animali d’Italia. II. Lezione Accademica intorno all’Origine delle Fontane. III. Raccolta di varj Trattati accresciuti con Annotazioni, e con Giunte. Giovanni Gabriele Hertz, 1715. Three parts in one volume, 4° (231x156mm). [12, including frontispiece], 200; [8], 87, [1]; [4], 261, [3] pages; complete with the last blank leaf. Engraved author's portrait as a frontispiece. Thirty engraved... € 7.000 share +
Neoclassical scenography Basoli, Antonio (1774-1848). Raccolta di prospettive serie, rustiche, e di paesaggio dedicate al merito di alcuni mecenati, professori, amatori di belle arti, ed amici. Incise a semplice contorno, e stampate in carta velina ad uso di Francia per poterle acquerellare... Disegnate da Francesco Cocchi... Incise da diversi scuolari del professore Francesco Rosaspina, dall’autore e dal disegnatore. vendibili presso l'autore e presso diversi negozianti di stampe e libri in Bologna, 1810. Oblong folio (380x485 mm). Title-page with engraved vignette at the centre; 102 plates (numbered I-CII) engraved by Ignazio Sarti, Giulio Tomba, Luigi and Francesco Basoli, after Francesco Cocchi. Contemporary... P.a.r. share +
'Les Incroyables' Lucini, Antonio Francesco (1605/10-1661). Compendio dell’Armi de’ Caramogi D’Ant. Fran. Lucini. Florence [i.e., Paris?], F. L. D. Chartres excud. [i.e., François L’Anglois, dit Chartres], 1627. Twenty-three of twenty-five numbered etchings and engravings, including the title image (78-81x117-120 mm), all with large margins (each leaf measuring 198x141 mm). Lacking plates nos. 13 and 24. Unidentified blason... € 28.000 share +
The Italian Renaissance Swordsman Manciolino, Antonio (fl. 1531).. Opera nova, dove li sono tutti li documenti et vantaggi che si ponno havere nel mestier de l'armi d'ogni sorte novamente corretta et stampata. Venice, Niccolò di Aristotile de' Rossi called Zoppino, 1531. 8° (144x98 mm). Collation: A-H8. 63, [1] leaves. Italic and roman type. Woodcut printer's device on last leaf verso. Woodcut vignette on the title-page, seven woodcuts in text. French red morocco signed by Devauchelle. Covers... share +
Printed on blue paper, and bound for Cardinal Salviati Cecire, Antonio Maria (fl. 2. half of the 18th century). La dottrina della Chiesa sulle Indulgenze esposta e difesa... per dimostrare il valore delle Indulgenze contenute nella Bolla-Crociata pe’ regno delle due Sicilie. nella Stamperia Simoniana, 1791. Large 8° (214x135 mm). Printed on blue paper. 360 pages. Woodcut ornament on the title-page. Woodcut decorated initials, head- and tailpieces. Fine contemporary honey calf, over pasteboards. Covers within elaborate... € 3.200 share +
The first Italian translation, by the author himself Possevino, Antonio (1533-1611). Coltura de gl’ingegni... Nella quale con molta dottrina, & giuditio si mostrano li doni che ne gl’ingegni dell’huomo ha posto Iddio, la uarietà, & inclinatione loro, e di doue nasce, & come si conosca, li modi, e mezi d’essercitarli per le discipline, li rimedij a gl’impedimenti, li coleggi, & università, l’uso de’ buoni libri, e la corretione de’ cattiui. Giorgio Greco, 1598. 4° (207x147 mm). Collation: a-b4, A-N4, O6. [16], 115, [1] pages. Roman and italic type. Woodcut printer's device on the title-page. Contemporary vellum, over pasteboards. Traces of ties to the fore-edges. Smooth spine... € 1.400 share +
Antonio Vallisneri. Opere diverse del sig. Antonio Vallisneri cioe: 1. Istoria del camaleonte affricano, e di varj animali d’Italia. 2. Lezione accademica intorno all’origine delle. Venezia, Giovanni Gabriello Ertz, 1715. Tre parti in un volume in-4° (mm 236x167). I. 6 carte non numerate, di cui la prima bianca (comprendenti il titolo generale e il ritratto dell’autore inciso da Antonio Luciani), 200 pagine numerate. Illustrato da 14... share +
The Dee-Winthrop copy of Apollonius of Perga Apollonius Pergaeus (late 3rd century BC - early 2nd century BC). Apollonii Pergei Philosophi, Mathematicique excellentissimi Opera. Per Doctissimum Philosophum Ioannem Baptistam Memum Patritium Venetum, Mathematicharum Artium in Urbe Veneta Lectorem Publicum. De Graeco in Latinum Traducta, & Nouiter Impressa.... Bernardino Bindoni for Giambattista Memmo, 1537. Folio (303x203 mm). Collation: a-p6. 89 of 90 leaves, lacking the final blank. Roman and italic type. Title-page printed in red and black, within a four-sided border of six different woodblocks, depicting a series... € 540.000 share +
Aretino Leonardo Bruno. De bello Italico adversus Gothos. Foligno, Johann Neumeister ed Emiliano degli Orfini, 1470. In-4°(mm 250x188). Segnatura: [a12, b-f10, g12]. 72 di 74 carte non numerate, mancando la prima e l’ultima bianca. Testo su 29 linee. Al recto della prima carta iniziale ‘E’ su 6 linee miniata in oro e... share +
A stunning presentation copy of Kircher’s Ars Magna Sciendi Kircher, Athanasius (1602-1680). Ars Magna Sciendi, In XII Libros Digesta, qua Nova & Universali Methodo Per Artificiosum Combinationum contextum de omni re proposita plurimis & prope infinitis rationibus disputari, omniumque summaria quaedam cognitio comparari potest.... Johann Jansson van Waesberghe and the Widow of Elizeus Weyerstraet, 1669. Two parts in one volume, large folio (447x282 mm). The two parts with running collation and foliation. Collation: *4, **4, A-Z4, Aa-Hh4, Kk-Zz4, Aaa-Ooo4, Ppp6. [16], 482, [10] pages. Roman and italic type. Text in two... € 46.000 share +
A Typographical Monument Aurelius Augustinus (354-430). De Civitate Dei. Conradus Sweynheym and Arnoldus Pannartz, in the house of Petrus de Maximo, 1468. Folio (400x280 mm). Collation: *8, **8, a-m10, n12, 710, cum8, rum8. 273 of [274] leaves, lacking the last blank. Complete with the other blank leaves, fols. *1, **8, and rum7. Text in one column, 46 lines. Type: 115R.... € 240.000 share +
A bibliographical puzzle Castiglione, Baldassarre (1478-1529). Il libro del cortegiano del conte Baldesar Gastiglione [sic]. Florence, Benedetto Giunti, 1531 [probably Rome, 1537]. 8° (155x96 mm). Collation: A-Z8, AA-BB8. 200 leaves. Roman and italic type. Woodcut printer's device on the title-page and on the verso of the last leaf. Blank spaces for capitals, with printed guide letters.... € 8.800 share +
