Alciati, Emblemata, Frankfurt, 1567, calf gilt with arms of Duke Friedrich Wilhelm of Saxe-Weimar

ALCIATI, ANDREA. Emblemata Andreae Alciati, I.V. Doctoris clarissimi, postremo ac ultimo ab ipso authore recognita, imaginibusque vivis ac lepidis denuò artificiosissimè illustrata. Adiecta sunt insuper perelegantia ac docta epimythia seu affabulationes.

Frankfurt am Main: (Georg Rab for Sigmund Feyerabend and Simon Hüter), 1567

BOUND FOR DUKE FRIEDRICH WILHELM OF SAXE-WEIMAR, who wrote his name in this book when he became duke at the age of 11, shortly before enrolling in the University of Jena at the age of 12.

Johannes Weischner (ca. 1515-1589) was a bookbinder at the newly founded University of Jena from 1559 onwards. His son Lukas was appointed as binder for Duke Julius of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel (whose library developed into the Herzog August Bibliothek) and he also produced deluxe bindings for Duke Friedrich Wilhelm (see Davis Gift 347). Einbanddatenbank ascribes the Christ Child stamp on the lower cover to the Herzoglicher Meister (active Weimar, sixteenth century, EBDB w007553]. A binding now in Gotha (Theol. 666) contains the same Christ Child stamp with the same two sets of initials on the binding.

This edition of Alciati contains affabulationes, explanations of each emblem. The woodcuts are by Virgil Solis and Jost Amman.

8vo (151 x 94 mm). Roman and italic type, 29 lines plus headline. Collation: a⁸ A-Z⁸ a-c⁸ d²: 218 leaves. Woodcut printer's device on title-page and final leaf, woodcut illustrations.

Binding: Contemporary calf gilt by Johannes Weischner of Jena [EBDB w000141], upper cover with the arms of Saxony in centre, initials F.W.D.S. [Friedrich Wilhelm Dux Saxoniae] and D.M.E.V.C. [Disce mori et vivere Christo] above and the date 1573 stamped below, lower cover with central gilt panel stamp of the Christ Child, spine with small leafy stamp in compartments, red edges. (Gilding somewhat rubbed, spine chipped at head.)

Provenance: Duke Friedrich Wilhelm of Saxe-Weimar (1562-1602, became duke in 1573), arms and initials F.W.D.S. on binding, name and motto in Latin written on inside front cover dated 1573 — shelfmark Ph. M. 22 on title-page — Hartung & Hartung, Munich, sale, 7 May 2018, lot 23. Acquisition: Purchased at the preceding sale. References: Green, Alciati 77; Landwehr, German Emblem Books 30; VD16 A 1644