Giovio, Illustrium virorum vitae, Florence, 1549, contemporary Roman binding by Niccolò Franzese for Giovanni Battista de Ribera

first edition, folio (335 x 216 mm). Roman type, 43 lines plus headline. collation: A-N⁶ O-P⁴ Q-Z⁶ 2A-2P⁶: 224 leaves. Title-page with woodcut Medici arms, woodcut initials. (Spotting and marginal dampstaining.)

binding: Contemporary Roman red morocco by Niccolò Franzese (345 x 229 mm), possibly a remboîtage, richly gilt, fleuron at outer corners, 2 concentric frames, outer frame containing repeated leafy and floral arabesque stamp, inner frame containing repeated Greek key stamp, in centre a roundel containing on upper cover "M.T.C.|.N.|.AV." and on lower "GIO.|BATTIS|TA. DE.|RIBERA", field around roundel with 8 small gilt leaf tools, spine with 4 bands, later 4-line gilt title tooled in label to second compartment, edges gilt and gauffered to a ropework design. (Old restorations to head and tail of spine, some worming to spine ends, staining to boards, extremities rubbed.)

provenance: Giovanni Battista de Ribera, name on binding—"M.T.C.|.N.|.AV.", possibly, initials on binding—Alfred Hopkins (member of Grolier Club 1927-1935)—Christie's, New York, 15 December 2005, lot 336. acquisition: Purchased at the preceding sale. references: Edit16 CNCE 21166; USTC 833165; Adams, G-663