Mercuriale, Girolamo
De arte gymnastica libri sex
£375
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 13 July 2022 from 10:00 BST
Description
Editio novissima, aucta, emendata, et figuris authenticis Christophori Coriolani exornata. Amsterdam: Andreas Frisius, 1672. 4to (23.7 x 16.7cm), 20th-century panelled calf, pp. [8] 387 [41], engraved additional title-page, 6 engraved plates (5 folding; 1 double-page), woodcuts throughout (many full-page), toning, ink-stamps of South Shields Public Library to title-page, several text-leaves and versos of plates, folding plates with neat repairs to inner folds verso, title-page with old ink-stain and 18th-century ownership inscription ('Henry Tonge Junr') [Cicognara 1713]
Footnote
Note: First published in 1569, this is 'one of the earliest books to discuss the therapeutic value of gymnastics and sports generally for the cure of disease and disability, and an important study of gymnastics in the ancient world' (Garrison-Morton p. 310, for the first edition). The 1672 edition is 'the most highly valued, because in addition to the woodcuts of the previous editions there are [plates] which make it fully illustrated' (Cicognara).