Bibliopoly

(ACHILLINI A. ed.).

Secreta secretorum Aristotelis (and other works)

(Lyon) L. M(artin), 1528 8vo: white on black border to title-page; device at end of a palm-tree on which hangs a shield with the initials LM; two unicorns are supporters. Modern vellum, title-page grubby, one corner replaced and small repairs to edges; wormhole in lower margin of first gathering, a better copy than it sounds. Although now better remembered as a writer on medical subjects (see DSB), Achillini was in his time famous as a philosopher of the Peripatetic or Averroist school who lectured on both philosophy and medicine. This collection of seven quasi-scientific works was edited by Achillini and the inclusion of four pseudo-Aristotelian pieces has been 'taken as a further indication of (his) favourable attitudes towards occult science.' The pieces contained here are Secreta Secretorum; De signis aquarum, ventorum et tempestatum; De mineralibus; Alexander Apohrodisiensis, De intellectu; Averroes, De beatitudine anime; Achillini, De universalibus; Alexandri Macedonis Ad Aristotelem de mirabilibus Indie. The last work had been a popular description of mythical beasts and strange humans since its composition in the seventh century Thorndike V, 47-50; Baudrier V, 104; Durling 270 (Lyon) L. M(artin), 1528 8vo: white on black border to title-page; device at end of a palm-tree on which hangs a shield with the initials LM; two unicorns are supporters. Modern vellum, title-page grubby, one corner replaced and small repairs to edges; wormhole in lower margin of first gathering, a ...

(ARDENE J P de R d')

Abrégé des Instructions sur le Jardinage, qui font partie de l'Année Champêtre.

Avignon & Marseille, J. Mossy, 1767. 12mo: engraved vignette on title-page, contemporary calf, worn but sound. Piece cut from upper margin of title-page. Only edition of this useful handbook prepared by Ardene from his three-volume Année Champêtre, devoted to the cultivation of vegetables. The instructions for each month are, like all the author's works, based on his observations made in his own garden. Avignon & Marseille, J. Mossy, 1767. 12mo: engraved vignette on title-page, contemporary calf, worn but sound. Piece cut from upper margin of title-page. Only edition of this useful handbook prepared by Ardene from his three-volume Année Champêtre, devoted to the cultivation of vegetables. The i ...

(ARDENE J.P. de R. d')

Trattato sulla cognizione e cultura de'Giacinti, tradotto dal Francese, con figure in rame.

Viterbo, D.A.Zenti, 1763

8vo: 8ff., 112pp., large engraved vignette on title-page showing two putti carrying hyacinths, two folding plates containing eight main illustrations, with added figures of details. Contemporary limp boards covered with a large-patterned floral paper: small defect to top of spine, an excellent untrimmed copy.

First edition of this anonymous translation of d'Ardene's Traité des Jacinthes, one of five he wrote on garden plants as a result of his observations in the famous garden he created. In his preface the translator complains of the Italian gardener's need to buy bulbs from Dutch catalogues, adding in a footnote that Sig. Uliveri of Florence had started to use Dutch methods of cultivation and now issued annual catalogues. 8vo: 8ff., 112pp., large engraved vignette on title-page showing two putti carrying hyacinths, two folding plates containing eight main illustrations, with added figures of details. Contemporary limp boards covered with a large-patterned floral paper: small defect to top of spine, an excellent untri ...

(ARGENTI Agostino ?).

Cavalerie della città di Ferrara. Che contengono il Castello di Gorgoferusa, il Monte di Feronia et il Tempio d'Amore.

(Ferrara, de Rossi, 1566). 4to: 2 parts. Replaced in its early 18th century calf-backed vellum binding: the painter of the red edges has smudged a little paint on the title-page and the blank verso of the last leaf. Printed on thick paper, an excellent copy. First edition of the detailed account of the Tempio d'Amore, an elaborate torneo performed at the court in Ferrara as part of the festivities for the wedding of Duke Alfonso d'Este to Princess Barbara of Austria. There are full details of the buildings, statues & decorations, the words of the choral and spoken verses and the names of the participants. Preceding this are corrected reprints of accounts of two torneos which had taken place in 1561. All three belong to the form of torneo which incorporated singing, dancing, spectacular scenery, elaborate machinery and transformations, and flourished particularly strongly at Ferrara. These were the first examples of this genre for which detailed accounts survive. Ruggieri Cat. 714. (Ferrara, de Rossi, 1566). 4to: 2 parts. Replaced in its early 18th century calf-backed vellum binding: the painter of the red edges has smudged a little paint on the title-page and the blank verso of the last leaf. Printed on thick paper, an excellent copy. First edition of the detailed account of ...

(BILLY DE PRUNAY Jacques de)

Anthologia sacra libri quator, quorum primus & secundus a Jacobo Billio...Tertius Prosperi Aquitanici sacra Epigrammata in D. Aurelii Augustini sententias continet.. Quartus varios Hymnos sacras, pietatem spirantes complectitur.

[Geneva], Jac. Chouet, 1591. 16mo: contemporary limp vellum, ties intact, loosening and a little sprung; title-leaf messy with frayed outer corners; with the inscription on front pastedown 'Alexr Boswel L & B 1727' The author of this collection was abb de St. Michel-en-l'Herm. It had first been published in Paris in 1575. [Geneva], Jac. Chouet, 1591. 16mo: contemporary limp vellum, ties intact, loosening and a little sprung; title-leaf messy with frayed outer corners; with the inscription on front pastedown 'Alexr Boswel L & B 1727' The author of this collection was abb de St. Michel-en-l'Herm. It had first been pu ...

(BONICELLI A ).

Bibliotheca Pisanorum Veneta annotationibus nonnullis illustrata. Volumen primum (secundum, tertium),

Venice, Curti, 1807-8 Large 8vo: three volumes. Original stiff wrappers, printed labels. The catalogue of a fine library, meticulously compiled by its librarian. The third volume is noteworthy for listing in detail the contents of 340 volumes of miscellanies; these are indexed by author as well as subject. The first volume lists the books in Latin, the second those in the European vernacular languages with a natural preponderance of Italian. Cicogna 4383. Venice, Curti, 1807-8 Large 8vo: three volumes. Original stiff wrappers, printed labels. The catalogue of a fine library, meticulously compiled by its librarian. The third volume is noteworthy for listing in detail the contents of 340 volumes of miscellanies; these are indexed by author as well as ...

(CHRESTIEN Florent)/(JACQUEMOT Jean)

Vidi Fabri Pibracci Tetrasticha Gallica Graecis, pariter & Latinis Versibus expressa, authore Florente Christiano. Quibus adiecta sunt D. Gregorii Nazianzeni aliquot eiusdem argumenti tetrastichi... (De inconstantissima huius mundi vanitate ex Gallicis octostichis A. Sadeelis Latinè factis à Io. Iacomoto Barrensi. Cent quatrains consolatoires du Sieur de la Primaudé... centum tetrasticha. Latine facta à Ioannes Iacomotus). 1598

(Geneva), apud F. Fabrum, 1598

16mo: 18th century French red morocco, triple-ruled gilt border, spine almost completely taken up by longitudinal titling piece gilt. Two leaves waterstained with marginal reinforcements, early inscription partially washed from bottom of title-page. Greek, roman and italic type. An attractive copy.

A scarce little collection taken from various sources. Chrestien's translations into Greek and Latin verse of Pibrac's quatrains had appeared first in 1584. The other translations into Latin are by Jean Jacquemot who, as a Calvinist, was forced to leave his native Bar-le-Duc and spent most of his life in Geneva where he became Rector of the Academy in 1586. This Geneva edition is not in B.M. STC., not in B.N., not in OCLC 16mo: 18th century French red morocco, triple-ruled gilt border, spine almost completely taken up by longitudinal titling piece gilt. Two leaves waterstained with marginal reinforcements, early inscription partially washed from bottom of title-page. Greek, roman and italic type. An attractive copy. ...

(CONTARINI Luigi Pietro)

Nell'Ingresso alla dignit di Procuratore di S. Marco di S.E. Il Signor Kav. Luigi Pietro Contarini.

Padua, Stamperia Penada, n.d.. 4to: copper plate of engraved arms facing title-page; contemporary stiff wrappers with attractive pattern of flowers and leaves on a dotted background. Only edition, presumably, of twelve stanzas by Antonio Guadagni.

(GOZZI Gasparo)

Il ritorno di Tobia, cantata a cinque voci.

Venice, Stamperia Albrizziana, 1782 Large 8vo: engraved frontispiece by Felippo Ricci, large allegorical engraving of Venice on title-page, 4 large copperplate head- and tail-pieces. Mottled wrappers. First edition of this cantata in two parts written for five voices and chorus; towards the end of the first part was inserted 'Breve sinfonia d'allegrezza'. The piece was written for a visit to Venice by Pope Pius VI and performed in the Oratorio degli Incurabili. The composer was Galuppi. Untraced in NUC; Melzi II, p.469. Venice, Stamperia Albrizziana, 1782 Large 8vo: engraved frontispiece by Felippo Ricci, large allegorical engraving of Venice on title-page, 4 large copperplate head- and tail-pieces. Mottled wrappers. First edition of this cantata in two parts written for five voices and chorus; towards the end of ...

(PAISIELLO): SCHIZZI Folchino.

Della vita e degli studi di Giovanni Paisiello.

Della vita e degli studi di Giovanni Paisiello. large 8vo: lithograph portrait-frontispiece. Contemporary wrappers. First edition of the first serious study of Paisiello's life and works; it contains a list of his works and a selection of his correspondence.

(Paris) LOUVRE

Notice des tableaux des écoles Française et Flamande, Exposés dans la grande Galerie, Dont l'ouverture a eu lieu le 28 Germinal an VII; et des tableaux des écoles de Lombardie et de Bologne, Dont l'Exposition a eu lieu le 25 Messidor an IX. Prix, 1 fr. 50 cent. Le Produit du Livret est consacré aux dépenses de l'établissement.

(Paris), de L'Imprimerie des sciences et arts, rue Ventadour, No. 5, n.d.

12mo: 224pp. Contemporary calf-backed boards; top of spine defective, last page browned.

The catalogue of the first permanent exhibition at the Louvre: before the opening of the Grande Galerie it had only been possible to hold temporary exhibitions in the Salon Carré. This is an enlarged edition: pages 153-224 contain a supplement:- Supplément a la Notice des tableaux de la grande Galerie. 12mo: 224pp. Contemporary calf-backed boards; top of spine defective, last page browned. The catalogue of the first permanent exhibition at the Louvre: before the opening of the Grande Galerie it had only been possible to hold temporary exhibitions in the Salon Carré. This is an enlarged edition ...

(PELLEGRINI) PEREGRINI Matteo

Delle acutezze che altrimenti spiriti, vivezze e concetti volgarmente si appellano trattato.

Genoa, Farroni, Pesagni & Barbieri, 1639

8vo: contemporary limp vellum; marginal stain in first two leaves, fraying and loss to margin (only) of third leaf.

'Wit' was a much sought-after quality in Baroque literature; how best to dazzle the reader with every form of ingenuity was a question treated very seriously. Pellegrini's treatise precedes Gracian's by three years. The author, a native of Bologna was in the service of Prince Andrea Doria, in whose Genovese palazzo he wrote this work. This is the first edition; it is scarce.
Cf. Vinciana 3699, the second edition. 8vo: contemporary limp vellum; marginal stain in first two leaves, fraying and loss to margin (only) of third leaf. 'Wit' was a much sought-after quality in Baroque literature; how best to dazzle the reader with every form of ingenuity was a question treated very seriously. Pellegrini's treatise p ...

(PICCOLOMINUS Augustinus): MARCELLUS Christophorus

Rituum Ecclesiasticorum sive Sacrarum Cerimoniarum S.S. Romanae Ecclesiae libri tres non ante impressi.

Venice, Gregorius de Gregoriis, 1516 (Nov. 16)

Small folio: three fine large woodcuts, one at the head of each book. 17th century calf, worn, rebacked. A library stamp and old inscription removed from title and paper strengthened, otherwise an excellent copy.

Very rare first edition. Written by Piccolomini, Bishop of Faenza, about 1488 on the orders of Pope Innocent VIII, the work was edited and published by Marcellus without any mention of the true author's name. He did however make some alterations to the text of Piccolomini's manuscript: these were reported to Pope Leo X by the cardinals. The book was suppressed and a large part of the edition was burnt. There is another 'edition' with the same imprint and date: the text is unaltered but the papal privilege is removed from the verso of the title, which has been changed.
Olschki, Choix 3136: Sander 5662: Rivoli Cat. pp. 381 et seq. Small folio: three fine large woodcuts, one at the head of each book. 17th century calf, worn, rebacked. A library stamp and old inscription removed from title and paper strengthened, otherwise an excellent copy. Very rare first edition. Written by Piccolomini, Bishop of Faenza, about 1488 on the o ...

(SANSOVINO Francesco)

Delle cose notabili della citt di Venezia libri II. Ne'quali amplamente e con ogni verit si contengono. Usanza antichi. Habiti & vestiti...Huomini letterati, Chiese e monasterii...Fabriche e Palazzi. Pittore e pitture. Scultori e Scolture... Musici di pi sorte. Novamente riformati, accresciuti & abelliti.

Venice, Lucio Spineda, 1602. 8vo: device on title-page; vellum: repairs in 2 leaves, with minor loss of text on one leaf; four leaves browned. Often ascribed to Girolamo Bardi, we follow the Censimento in naming Sansovino as the author of this popular guide to Venice set in the form of a dialogue between a Venetian and a foreigner. Venice, Lucio Spineda, 1602. 8vo: device on title-page; vellum: repairs in 2 leaves, with minor loss of text on one leaf; four leaves browned. Often ascribed to Girolamo Bardi, we follow the Censimento in naming Sansovino as the author of this popular guide to Venice set in the form of a dialogue b ...

ADIMARI Alessandro.

La Polinnia overo Cinquanta sonetti fondati sopra Sentenze di G. Cor. Tacito.

Florence, Pietro Cecconcelli, 1628 4to: fine engraved title-page. Contemporary limp vellum: a distinguished but misplaced ownership stamp on title-page. First edition of the first collection in an intended series of nine books, each with the name of one of the muses as its title; only six were published. All of these are notable for their finely engraved title-pages. The present one depicts a hanging nautical chart surmounting a formal garden laid out as a sun dial. All have been ascribed to Stefano Della Bella at various times, but De Vesme considers that this one is more likely to have been executed by Bazzicaluva. Cat. Vinciana 2284 Florence, Pietro Cecconcelli, 1628 4to: fine engraved title-page. Contemporary limp vellum: a distinguished but misplaced ownership stamp on title-page. First edition of the first collection in an intended series of nine books, each with the name of one of the muses as its title; only six were publ ...

AGRICOLA Francesco

Trattanimenti sulle vernici ed altre materie utile e dilettevoli sparse nelle opere di molti accreditati autori, particolarmente nel Trattato assai stimato del P. Filippo Bonanni: raccolti ed ordinati da F. Agricola.

Ravenna, Roveri & Fava, n.d. (privilege dated 1788) 8vo: 3 plates. Contemporary vellum, end papersrenewed. This encyclopaedic compilation draws on over twenty earlier works, which are listed before the text. Several of the thirty-seven sections deal with preserves, household hints, vegetable culture and medicines as well as instructions for popular arts and crafts. NUC lists a single copy, at Harvard Fine Arts Library. Ravenna, Roveri & Fava, n.d. (privilege dated 1788) 8vo: 3 plates. Contemporary vellum, end papersrenewed. This encyclopaedic compilation draws on over twenty earlier works, which are listed before the text. Several of the thirty-seven sections deal with preserves, household hints, vegetable cultu ...

AIR TRAFFIC.

Convention portant Réglementation de la Navigation Aérienne (13 Octobre 1919)

n.p., n.d., (Paris, 1919) Folio: 3 folding charts. Text in French, English and Italian. Original printed wrappers. The Paris convention of 1919, which was not ratified by the USA, established regulations on the sovereignty of air space. This is the first appearance of the first codification of principles governing international air traffic control. n.p., n.d., (Paris, 1919) Folio: 3 folding charts. Text in French, English and Italian. Original printed wrappers. The Paris convention of 1919, which was not ratified by the USA, established regulations on the sovereignty of air space. This is the first appearance of the first codification of pr ...

AIX:CAROLINGIAN RELICS

Receuil ou abrege historique tiré des plus ancien autheurs pour faire voire de quelle maniere les saintes reliques... dans l'Eglise Royale de Nôtre Dame d'Aix la Chapelle y ont été transportées par l'Empereur Charlemagne.

Aix, G. Houben, c.1776 24mo: wood-engraved frontispiece showing Charlemagne holding the church, with a view of the city below; fullpage arms of the dedicatee, Count Clement Belderbusch and two facing fullpage illustrations each showing fourteen relics.Contemporary wrappers of a particularly pretty floral paper. Among the most venerated of all relics were those obtained by Charlemagne for his imperial palace. Swarms of the devout joined the Shrine Pilgrimages throughout the middle ages. The four most important relics were, and still are, exhibited only once every seven years. This little work acted as a guide for a pilgrim; it contains a history of the church, a description of its relics and prayers to be said during the demonstration of the relics. With its illustrations it would have been an attractive souvenir of the purchaser's undertaking. Aix, G. Houben, c.1776 24mo: wood-engraved frontispiece showing Charlemagne holding the church, with a view of the city below; fullpage arms of the dedicatee, Count Clement Belderbusch and two facing fullpage illustrations each showing fourteen relics.Contemporary wrappers of a particularly pretty ...

ALBERGATI CAPACELLI Francesco

Il Saggio Amico Commedia. Rappresentata in Venezia nel Teatro di S. Salvatore il Carnevale del 1769.

Venezia nel Teatro di S. Salvatore il Carnevale del 1769. 8vo: attractive engraved title-page. Original limp boards, untrimmed. First edition of this prose comedy in three acts. The plot involves one of the suitors disguising himself as an English traveller, Milord Stick.

ALCIAT Andrea.

Emblemata...cum Imaginibus plerisque restitutis ad mentem Auctoris, Adiecta compendiosa explicatione Claudii Minois et notulis extemporiis Laurentii Pignorii.

Padua, P.P.Tozzi, 1618 8vo: engraved title-page, 1+ 211 woodcut emblems. Contemporary limp vellum;a light waterstain in the last gathering. An important edition, the first to result from the collaboration of the antiquarian scholar, Pignoria and the publisher Tozzi. This Paduan team was later to produce the definitive edition of 1621 as well as scholarly illustrated editions of Cartari and Conti. There is a prefatory letter dedicating the edition to the Bishop of Ferrara, Mignault's life of Alciat and a note on the 'obscene' emblem LXXX. These are followed by an interesting address to the reader by Pignoria and his notes: in later editions these were incorporated, with alterations, into the main commentary. Padua, P.P.Tozzi, 1618 8vo: engraved title-page, 1+ 211 woodcut emblems. Contemporary limp vellum;a light waterstain in the last gathering. An important edition, the first to result from the collaboration of the antiquarian scholar, Pignoria and the publisher Tozzi. This Paduan team was later to p ...