Capaccio, Delle imprese, Naples, 1592, contemporary vellum

CAPACCIO, GIULIO CESARE. Delle imprese trattato di Giulio Cesare Capaccio. In tre libri diviso. Nel primo, del modo di far l'impresa da qualsivoglia oggetto, o naturale, o artificioso con nuove maniere si ragiona. Nel secondo, tutti ieroglifici, simboli, e cose mistiche in lettere sacre, o profane si scuoprono; e come da quegli cavar si ponno l'imprese. Nel terzo, nel figurar degli emblemi di molte cose naturali per l'imprese si tratta. Naples: Orazio Salviani for Giovanni Giacomo Carlino & Antonio Pace, 1592

FIRST EDITION of Capaccio's emblem book, which contains numerous emblems and devices taken from the natural world. In the first book, Capaccio examines in detail the different theories of emblematics, the differences between devices and emblems in which he emphasizes (as Mortimer notes) the fact that the essence of impresa is an intellectual conceit; he also discusses the interpretation of hieroglyphics and the significance of colours. The second and third books are devoted to devices and emblems respectively.

3 parts in one volume, 4to (192 x 137 mm). Roman type, 38 lines plus headline. Collation: [paraph]⁴ a-g⁴ A-X⁴; AA-OOO4; AAA-PPPP⁴: 116+148+60 leaves. Woodcut printer's device on title-pages, woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, woodcut illustrations (mostly emblems within roundels), woodcut printer's device at end. (Occasional light staining.)

Binding: Near-contemporary vellum (198 x 154 mm), red edges. (Binding lightly soiled.)

Provenance: Libreria Antiquaria Mediolanum, bookseller's label, catalogue 34, item 81. Acquisition: Purchased in 2009 from Mediolanum, Milan. References: Edit16 9062; Landwehr, Romanic Emblem Books 203; Mortimer, Harvard Italian 101