Sanders, De clave David, Rome, 1588, red morocco gilt by the Vatican Bindery for Sixtus V

Large paper copy, 4to (248 x 173 mm). Roman type, 36 lines plus headline. collation: *⁴ **⁴ A-3C⁴ 3D³ (3D3 is additional errata leaf): 391 leaves. Woodcut arms on title-page, woodcut printer's device to final verso, woodcut initials. (Some light spotting, 10 mm burn mark to head of textblock from 3A1 to lower endpaper.)

binding: Contemporary Roman red morocco for Sixtus V (253 x 187 mm), frame borders, the inner frame formed of two bands which cross each other at intervals in an ornamental knot, the space between them with gilt fleurons and leaves, central panel with the arms of Sixtus V, with scrollwork above and below, 3 monticelli surmounted by 6-pointed star at outer angles, spine with 4 bands, alternating monticelli and star in compartments, title in second and third compartments, edges gilt, in green pasteboard box. (Expertly rebacked retaining most of original spine, corners restored.)

provenance: Pope Sixtus V (r. 1585-1590), his arms, a 6-pointed star, and 3 monticelli on binding—French convent of the Minims, Trinità dei Monti, Pincio, eighteenth-century inscription to title—J. Pearson & Co., Catalogue (London [n.d.]), item 287 (illustrated)—Charles Scribner's Sons, Partial list of an unique exhibition of historical and famous bindings principally of the XVth and XVIth centuries from the libraries of royal and notable personages … November the 27th, to December the 5th, 1903 (New York 1903), item 26—Mortimer Schiff (1877-1931), ex-libris to upper pastedown, his sale, Sotheby's, part III, 9 December 1938, lot 2184, £19 10s to Heilbrun—Arturo Dazza of Vercelli (d. 2010), ex-libris to upper pastedown, sale, Bloomsbury, Rome, 6 December 2006, lot 15. acquisition: Purchased at the preceding sale. references: USTC 854488; Edit16 CNCE 34202