Welser, Rerum Augustanar, Venice, [Aldo II Manuzio], 1594, eighteenth-century Roman red morocco

Welser, Marcus. Rerum Augustanar. Vindelicar libri octo. Venice: [Aldo II Manuzio], 1594

First edition, first issue, the copy of Pope Benedict XIV. A German translation of the present work by Engelbert Werlich was printed at Augsburg in 1595 with woodcut copies of Mair's engravings. Although this edition is unsigned, Aldo Manuzio the younger printed three other works by Welser in 1590 and 1591. This first issue has a colophon reading "Venetiis, MDXCIV," another issue retains the engraved title-page dated 1594 but contains a colophon "Augustae Vindelicorum. Anno MDCXX."

First edition, first issue, the copy of Pope Benedict XIV. A German translation of the present work by Engelbert Werlich was printed at Augsburg in 1595 with woodcut copies of Mair's engravings. Although this edition is unsigned, Aldo Manuzio the younger printed three other works by Welser in 1590 and 1591. This first issue has a colophon reading "Venetiis, MDXCIV," another issue retains the engraved title-page dated 1594 but contains a colophon "Augustae Vindelicorum. Anno MDCXX."

Folio (290 x 192 mm). Roman and italic types, 38 lines plus headline. collation: A-B⁴ C-D² E-Z⁴ Aa-Nn⁴ Oo²: 142 leaves. Engraved title-page by Alexander Mair, engraved illustrations, 2 double-page, headpieces, historiated and decorated woodcut initials, woodcut ornaments, author's name in manuscript on lower margin of title, underlining. (A few light stains, engraving on L2 folding at tips, minute wormhole at lower margin beginning at O1, tracks from Ll1-Nn3.)

binding: Eighteenth-century Roman red morocco (299 x 202 mm), border of gilt rolls and alternating stamps of pineapple and shell motifs surmounted by fleurs-de-lis, in center of upper cover gilt arms of Pope Benedict XIV and on lower cover arms of a Cardinal, spine gilt, traces of two pairs of ties, yellow edges. (Recased, repairs, later marbled endpapers.)

provenance: Pope Benedict XIV (b. Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, 1675–1758; r. 1740–1758), his insignia on upper cover, insignia of a Cardinal on lower cover — Augustus Frederick, Royal Duke of Sussex (1773–1843), armorial ex libris — R.H. Evans, London, 30 January–10 February 1845, lot 1879 — Molini or bought in sale (4s) — Sir Charles James Stuart, 2^nd Bt. (1824-1901), ex libris — Sir Edward Andrew Stuart, 3^rd Bt. (1832–1903) — Sotheby's London, 29-30 June 1903, lot 562; purchased by — William Ridler, London— Philip Hofer (1898–1984), ex libris — Lucien Goldschmidt, New York. acquisition: Purchased from Lucien Goldschmidt, New York, 1972. references: UCLA 1027; Renouard 252/4; Edit16 48340; USTC 863882