Xenophon, Della vita di Cyro, Toscolano, 1527, contemporary Roman brown morocco gilt with "co'l tempo" impresa

8vo (152 x 90 mm). (1) Italic type, 29 lines plus headline. collation: a-t⁸ u⁴: 156 leaves. Half-title, initial spaces with printed guides. (2) Italic type, 30 lines plus headline. collation: a-z⁸ &⁸ [cum]⁴: 196 leaves. Title in elaborate woodcut border, initial spaces with printed guides, woodcut to final verso, some passages marked in ink. (Some marginal dampstaining, small scattered ink stains occasionally affecting text, (2) upper outer corner of a8 torn with loss partly affecting 7 lines of text.)

binding: Roman brown morocco (157 x 95 mm), c. 1535, frame of double gilt fillets, forming a small circle at outer angles and extending from midpoints of sides to form central circle containing an astrolabe wrapped by a banderol with the motto "CO'L TEMPO", spine with 3 full bands, author's names lettered in gilt up the spine, stubs from 4 pairs of ties, edges gilt, in a black morocco box. (Binding slightly rubbed and scraped, with old repairs to spine ends and corners, repaired wormhole to upper free endpaper.)

provenance: "Co'l Tempo" owner, impresa and motto on binding—"Romulo...1593" inscription to lower endpaper—coat of arms with paschal lamb drawn in ink on upper endpaper—Arthur Lauria, Paris—Maurice Burrus (1882-1959), ex-libris to upper pastedown and purchase inscription "Lauria 1936" to lower pastedown, by descent until sold, Christie's, Paris, 15 December 2015, lot 229. acquisition: Purchased at the preceding sale. references: (1) USTC 863990; Edit16 CNCE 48346; (2) USTC 825124; Edit16 CNCE 13883