Sales catalogue: Sotheby's

Date:
09-10 November 1931
Reference:
WA/HMM/CM/Sal/20/968
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue: Sotheby's. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    31/342 page 27
    192 Kk * HYSTORIAL [Le cinquiesme volume], 2 vol. in 1, double columns, lettres batardes, titles within fine woodcut compartments, TEN LARGE woopcuts, from the Firmin-Didot collection folio. (330mm. by 210 mm), Paris, Nicolas Couteau for Jehan de la Garde, 16 March 15381 Bounp IN Paris For Peter Ernst Count OF MANSFELD DURING HIS DETENTION THERE (1552-57) WHEN PARISIAN BINDING WAS AT ITS ZENITH. Brown calf, the sides decorated with a very fine design of curving silver lines with foliate terminals outlined im silver and painted flowers in red, white and green. In the centre of each side a large scroll-work compartment painted in blue, black and red, con- taining within an oval on a dotted ground the arms of the owner enamelled in colours and encircled by the Order of the Golden Fleece. Lettered at top of each cover in gold “M. Force. Mest. Trop” and at foot “ Mansrett.” Flat back decorated with the same curving silver line with foliate terminals and painted flowers as the sides. Edges decorated with an “au pointillé” arabesque design. ‘Binding carefully restored. Sold as a binding and not subject to return. SPECIMENS OF THE LispraRy OF PETER Ernst Count oF Mans- FELD AND PRINCE OF THE Hoty Roman Empire (1517-1604) are EXTREMELY RARE. Only eight examples are known. ‘The Count was general of Charles V’s army and was captured by the French in 1552. He was commander-in-chief of the Spanish forces under Philip II and ultimately became administrator of the Netherlands on the death of Alex. Farnese. He married three times and had three sons, Frederic (d. 1559), Charles—also a book-collector—(d. 1595) and Peter Ernst JI (1580-1626). On a fly-leaf is written: “'Tandem. Ce liure apartient a Rene de Chalon et a mon ame Anne de Gros. 1607. 4me de Mars. De feu mon gran pere Le prince et Conte de Mansfelt pier Ernest.” On the title is the signature “‘ Chalon” and in the margin the following note of presentation: Collegii Sdctis Jesu Niuellis (i.e. Nivelles, south of Brussels). Dono Dnae de Chalon. Ora pro Illa. 1627.” This binding has been reproduced in the Firmin-Didot Sale Cata- logue, 1878, No. 715 and by Brunet La Reliure Ancienne et Moderne, plate 57.
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