[Bible. Latin] Biblia, Paris, Estienne, 1545, 2 volumes, Roman russet morocco

BIBLE. LATIN. Biblia quid in hac editione praestitum sit, vide in ea quam operi praeposuimus, ad lectorem epistola. Paris: Robert Estienne, 1545 

The present copy contains four of the five parts, excluding the New Testament and indexes. Anthony Hobson opined that this binding is a high-quality Roman binding inspired by a Venetian model (Hughes de Latude, Catalogue 24 (Paris 2005), item 15; tucked into volume). Hobson also identified one other known volume bound in a similar style, namely a Greek manuscript of the 'Geometria' of Heron of Alexandria held at the Biblioteca Casanatense, Rome.

4 works (of 5) in 2 volumes, 8vo (198 x 128 mm). Roman type: 73 lines plus headline. Collation: *⁸ 2*⁴ a-t⁸ v⁴ 2a-2x⁸ 2y⁴; A-S⁸ T¹² V-Y⁸ Z⁴ 3a-3o⁸ 3p⁴: 640 leaves. Title-page with woodcut border to title and woodcut printer's device, Latin annotations at margin of 3a4v and 3b5r. (Browning to text leaves, some worming at inner margin in first volume).

Binding: Roman binding (202 x 138 mm), c. 1545, russet morocco, covers following Venetian style of interlaced border formed by 2 gilt fillets, containing fleur-de-lis in interstices, and a central undulating lozenge, spine with 4 full and 5 half bands, title lettered in gold running up 3 central compartments, gilt edges. (Bindings repaired, some worming.)

Provenance: Unidentified early modern ownership inscription to title-page — Pier Francesco de Rossi (1591-1673), consistorial lawyer, bequeathed to — Collegio di San Pantaleo, Rome, inscriptions to front free endpaper ("Bibliothece | Domus Romanae Sn Pantaleonis") and title-page ("Bibliothece Schol. Piar., S. Pantal. | ex hered^e Francⁱ de Rubeis") — Edward Van Dyke Wight, Jr (d.1970), his sale, Sotheby's, 6 April 1955, lot 424 ("contemporary Roman binding of olive morocco gilt, probably by the Farnese bindery"), bought by Zirner for £20 — Hughes de Latude, Catalogue 24 (Paris 2005), item 15. Acquisition: Purchased in 2005 from Hugues de Latude, Paris. References: BP16 111946; USTC 149294; Darlow & Moule 6127