Lot 718
Simeoni, Gabriele
Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographss | 10 May 2007
Description
Les illustres observations antiques du Seigneur Gabriel Symeon Florentin en son dernier voyage d'Italie l'an 1557. Lyon: Ian de Tournes, 1558. First edition, 4to, engraved vignette on the titlepage, ornamental initials on criblé-ground and typographical ornaments, numerous woodcut illustrations of tombs, coins, inscriptions, view, etc. in the text, later tan polished calf, gilt arms on both boards, spine decorated gilt, titlepage a little dusty, light marginal water staining, a few occasional small stains
Footnote
Note: Adams 51161, Mortimer 497, BM, STC French Books p.402.
The author notes in the preface that he composed the work in both French and Italian with the French to appear first followed by the Italian (Illustratione de gli epitaffi et medaglie antiche, 1558) which was to be augmented. The work has many fine woodcuts including numerous inscriptions surrounded by arabesque borders or architectural frames to represent monuments, rare Roman medallions, statues, sarcophagi and other antiquities. There is a view of Vaucluse with the villa of Petrarca; a Roman calendar with fine woodcuts of the Zodiac heading the months; a woodcut of Actaeon which also appeared in the de Tournes edition of Ovid in 1557. There is a medallion portrait of the author on title surrounded by an elaborate architectural frame. The illustrations comprise 61 woodcuts of epitaphs, 35 of medallions and 15 smaller cuts in the text and are attributed to Bernard Salomon.
Provenance: With the armorial bookplate of Charles Viscount Bruce of Ampthill as son and heir of Thomas Earl of Elgin and Earl of Ailesbury, dated 1712.