Le vive imagini di tutti quasi gl'imperatori da C. Iulio Cæsare, in sino a Carlo. V

Antwerp (Gilles Coppens), 1557 [Colophon 1560]. Tall 4to. (12 1/2 x 8 3/4 inches), contemporary vellum with ties (renewed), and new endleaves; title lettered on the spine. First Spanish edition. Notwithstanding the presence of the woodcut title-page from the Latin edition and one leaf substituted [A6] from the Italian edition, the text and collation conforms to the Fairfax Murray copy [No. 187] of the first Spanish edition. That Coppens also published editions in French, German, Italian and Latin may account for the anomalies in our copy. In a cloth clam-shell case.This book begins with one the most remarkable title-pages of the 15th century, an example of Dutch mannerist ornamentation, executed in chiaroscurrtrait. It is followed by the Dedication to Philip II, the Prohemio de la obra, the Declaracion, and by 134 large (7 inches in diameter), medallion portraits of Roman and German emperors, all printed in chiaroscuro from blocks engraved and cut into wood by Josse Gietleughen after designs by the author. This splendid series of portraits, the first book to employ chiaroscuro woodcuts for illustration, were adapted after ancient coins by Hubert Goltzius (1526-1583). In those cases where he failed to find a satisfactory image as a model (fourteen Carolingian and Ottonian monarchs), Goltz decided instead to print a blank roundel accompanied by the appropriate text. The text in extremely erudite and is mostly concerned with the biographical data of the personalities depicted. The collation is: A, a-b, D-Z, Aa-Ee6, Ff-Gg4 (last blank, lacking) = 176 leaves, unnumbered. The paper used for the various editions of this work is invariably subject to discoloration and often the over-inked blocks have corroded the paper. Our copy has been carefully restored, including the repair of worm tracks and paper loss. Signatures. a & b should be marked B & C. They exactly imitate the same leaves in the 1557 Latin edition with the same blanks occurring, but with the following exceptions. No. 113 Charlemange and 131-132 (one portrait) Henry IV now supplied; the oval portrait of Philip and Maxmilian has disappeared, its place being taken by letterpress. Thus there is one more to add to those in the Latin edition, making 134 portraits in all. That of Ferdinand [155] is a new one; it is a bust only without crown, orb or scepter. The Spanish edition appears for sale far less frequently than the Latin, German, French and Italian editions. See: Fairfax Murray 187. Adams G840. Palau 103463. THE RARE SPANISH VERSION