Arrighi, De beatitudine hominis libri tres, Florence, 1569, dedication copy, armorial binding for Gregory XIII

ARRIGHI, GIOVANNI BATTISTA. De beatitudine hominis libri tres, editi per F. Ioannembaptistam Arrigum Florentinum eremitam Augustinianum, Priorem Sancti Spiritus Florentiae. Florence: Giorgio Marescotti, 1575 [bound with:]

Elementorum sacrae theologiae libri quatuor. F. Ioanne Baptista Arrigo Florentino Augustiniano eremita authore. Florence: s.n., 1569 (1570)

THE DEDICATION COPY of Arrighi’s two theological works. Arrighi (died 1607) was prior of the Augustinian convent of Santo Spirito, Florence.

The binding is probably Roman, as the central armorial surround is identical (with the exception of the shaft of the left-hand key) to those on other bindings for Gregory XIII (Legature papali, nos 127-130). For another binding with the Boncompagni arms, see lot 1022 (Aventinus).

2 works in one volume, 8vo (152 x 95 mm). Roman type, 30 and 34 lines plus headline. (1) Collation: A-F⁸: 48 leaves. Woodcut armorial of Gregory XIII on title-page, woodcut printer’s device on final recto, woodcut initials. (2) Collation: A-M⁸ N⁴: 100 leaves. Woodcut device on title-page, woodcut initial. (Occasional light foxing, front flyleaf repaired at head.)

Binding: Contemporary Italian red morocco gilt (158 x 104 mm), arms of Gregory XIII within a panel of blind and gilt fillets with corner fleurons and leafy swirls, spine gilt in compartments, gilt and gauffered edges, stubs from two pairs of ties. (Corners, ends of joints and ends of spine repaired.)

Provenance: Gregory XIII (Ugo Boncompagni, 1502-1585), arms on binding — Boncompagni family, ink stamp on title-page, and old shelfmark "C.V.18" — Hartwell de la Garde Grissell (1839-1907), sale, Sotheby’s, 13-17 August 1917, lot 1322, 10s, to Leighton — James Tregaskis, Catalogue 797 (London, 1917), item 117 — Parke Mayhew Pittar, sale, Sotheby’s, 4-7 November 1918, lot 38 — James Tregaskis, Catalogue 910 (London, 1925), item 14 —Jean Fürstenberg (1890-1982), red gilt booklabel, and “Exposé au Musée d’Art Genève Mai 1966”, red booklabel at foot of inside front cover — Martin Breslauer Inc., catalogue 104/II (New York, 1981), item 185, and catalogue 107/II (1984), item 23. Acquisition: Purchased in 1989 from Martin Breslauer. References: Edit16 3124 (variant b) & 3123