Strozzi, Poetae, Pater et Filius, [Basel?, Bartholomäus Westheimer? Johann Oporinus (Hersbt)? ca 1545], French armorial binding, before 1587, citron morocco

Strozzi, Tito Vespasiano. Strozii Poetae, Pater et Filius. [Basel?: Bartholomäus Westheimer? Johann Oporinus (Hersbt)? ca. 1545]

A Basel counterfeit with exceptional provenance — the De Thou-Soubise-Renouard-Vernon-Holford copy.

This edition of Strozii Poetae, Pater et Filius is a counterfeit of the 1513 Aldine printing, almost certainly produced in Basel around 1545, complete with the Aldine anchor and dolphin device. Renouard (pp. 319, 12 and 414) identifies it as a Basel forgery based on its Swiss paper and typographical characteristics. Typographical and material evidence suggest Bartholomäus Westheimer or Johann Oporinus as the likely printer, both active in Basel and known for Aldine counterfeits. Rylands OPAC notes similarities between this edition’s type and that used by Westheimer in Basel around 1537, while Adams and BM STC German suggest a date of circa 1540–1545. The use of Gothic type in certain sections and specific ink composition further support a Basel attribution.

During the early years of his collecting, Jacques-Auguste de Thou (1553-1617) commissioned some extravagant bindings; however, the great majority of his acquisitions were simply bound, with his family arms on the covers (D’argent au chevron de sable accompagné de trois taons du même) and his monogram on the spine: IADT (OHR 216, 1-3). After his marriage in 1587 to Marie de Barbançon-Cany (1587-1601), De Thou ordered a new arms block, impaling her family arms (D’argent à trois lionceaux de gueules armés, lampassés et couronnés d’or), and a new cipher joining their initials: IAM (OHR 216, 4-6). Following Marie’s death in 1601, De Thou ordered a third set of blocks uniting the arms of his second wife Gasparde de La Chastre (1577-1616) and initials: IAGG (OHR 216, 7-9). It seems that De Thou retained possession of all these tools, and lent them to several binders.

8vo (159 x 104 mm). Italic type, 29 lines plus headline. collation: a-z⁸ A-K⁸ L⁴: 276 leaves. Woodcut Aldine device to title- page, guide letters in initial spaces, last leaf a blank. (Marginal paper flaw to s6, occasional minor spots.)

binding: French armorial binding (165 x 103 mm), before 1587, citron morocco, triple gilt fillet around sides, gilt arms of Jacques Auguste de Thou as a bachelor with his gilt monogram in compartments of spine, brown edges. (Spine toned, very light shelfwear.)

provenance: Jacques Auguste de Thou (1553-1617), supralibros, his arms as a bachelor on covers, cipher on spine (OHR 216, 1-3) — possibly Pierre Dupuy, Catalogus bibliothecae Thuanae, Paris, 7 April 1680, II, p.287— Jean-Jacques Charron, marquis de Ménars (1643-1718) — Armand Gaston Maximilien, Cardinal, prince de Rohan (1674-1749), purchased former's library in 1706 — by descent to Charles de Rohan, prince de Soubise (1715-1787), shelfmark "3.3.9. 46." on upper cover and "3.C.P.T. 3.2.46" on pastedown; his sale, Leclerc, Paris, 12 January-20 February 1789, lot 4924 — Antoine-Augustin Renouard (1765-1853), his inscription on title-page; Catalogue de la bibliothèque d’un amateur (Paris 1819), II, p.328 — George John Warren, 5^th Baron Vernon (1803-1866); A catalogue of the library at Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire (ca 1836-1840?), “counterfeit of the Aldine edition. Thuanus' copy in morocco" — Robert Stayner Holford (1808-1892) — by descent to Lt. Col. Sir George Lindsay Holford (1860-1926); his sale, Sotheby's London, 5-9 December 1927, lot 768; purchased by — Bernard Quaritch, London; Catalogue of a most important collection of publications of the Aldine Press (London 1929), p.80 — Alan Noel Latimer Munby (1913-1974), ex libris — Sotheby's London, 14-15 October 1963, lot 287; purchased by — Maggs Bros, London. acquisition: Purchased from Librairie Paul Jammes, Paris, 1973. references: Renouard 319/12 and 414; VD16 S 9736 / 9738; USTC 694759