Boissard, Emblematum liber, Metz, 1588, later vellum

BOISSARD, JEAN-JACQUES. Iani Iacobi Boissardi Vesuntini Emblematum liber. Emblemes latins de I. I. Boissard, avec l'interpretation Françoise du I. Pierre Ioly Messin. Metz: (Jean Aubry for) Abraham Faber, 1588

Boissard's emblem book was first printed in Latin in 1584. The engravings are by Theodor de Bry and include a portrait of the author. Each emblem is addressed to a different person, including the printers Abraham Faber and Jean Aubry (whose emblem features the dolphin and anchor); the latter had just become Boissard's father-in-law.

4to (189 x 136 mm). Roman and italic type, text in Latin and French. Collation: A-M⁴: 48 leaves. Title within engraved border, woodcut initials and headpieces, engraved illustrations, replacement letterpress text pasted below emblem on I2 and I4. (Title-page soiled, other light soiling throughout, small tear in A4, some lower corners creased or repaired or defective.)

Binding: Later vellum (193 x 147 mm), reusing an old vellum manuscript document with an armorial stamp of Orléans. (Endleaves a little browned.)

Provenance: Nicolaus B[--]et, partially erased inscription on title-page dated 1635 — Bernard Guyon (1904-1975), bookplate. Acquisition: Purchased in 1990 from E.K. Schreiber, New York. References: Adams, Rawles & Saunders F.113; Landwehr, Romanic Emblem Books 165a; USTC 34923