Cardano, De subtilitate libri XXI, Paris, 1561, contemporary French calf

CARDANO, GIROLAMO. Hieronymi Cardani medici Mediolanensis, de subtilitate libri XXI. Paris: Mathurin Dupuys, 1561

One of numerous sixteenth-century editions of Cardano’s encyclopedic survey of contemporary knowledge, encompassing superstition, philosophy, geometry and natural sciences, first published in 1550. This edition, using the sheets from the 1551 Jacques Dupuys edition (BP16 114603) with a new title-page, is not listed in BP16 or USTC. The number of editions attests to its popularity, though it was famously criticised in print by Julius Caesar Scaliger in 1557.

The presence of the interlocking crescents on the cover led to an earlier supposition of a link to Diane de Poitiers, as this was one of her symbols.

8vo (170 x 108 mm). Italic type, 30 lines plus headline. Collation: Aa-Cc a-z A-Q⁸: 336 leaves (Cc8 blank). Woodcut initials, woodcut diagrams and illustrations.

Binding: Contemporary French calf (176 x 119 mm), covers with a double frame of blind fillets with gilt corner fleurons, central gilt stamp of three interlocking crescents, spine with small gilt fleur-de-lys in each compartment, stubs from two pairs of ties, plain edges, inventory number 125 in ink on top of text-block. In brown buckram drop-backed box. (Binding somewhat rubbed and repaired, spine and joints repaired.)

Provenance: Monogram on title-page with acquisition date 7 June 1576 and purchase price 12 (?ss) — René Vallin of Nantes, seventeenth-century inscription on lower cover, "Renati Vallini Nannet. et Amicorum" —Sotheby’s, 1 November 1976, lot 37, £260, to — C.E Rappaport, Rome, bookseller’s label on inside front cover — Michel Wittock (1936-2020), red gilt booklabel, sale, Christie’s, 7 July 2004, lot 30. Acquisition: Purchased at the preceding sale. References: Not in the standard bibliographies