Cicero, Epistolae ad Atticum, ad M. Brutum, ad Quintum fratrem, Paris, 1544, Parisian red morocco armorial binding for Jacques-Marie d'Amboise

CICERO, MARCUS TULLIUS. Epistolae ad Atticum, ad M. Brutum, ad Quintum fratrem, summa diligentia castigatae. Paris: Robert Estienne, 1543 (2 January 1544)

A second copy, bound for the French Hellenist Jacques-Marie d'Amboise.

2 parts in one volume, both with titles, 8vo (173 x 103mm). Roman, italic, and Greek types, 31 lines plus headline. Collation: A–Z⁸ AA–VV⁸ AAA–BBB⁸ CCC⁴: 364 leaves. Printer’s device on titles, ruled in red.

Binding: Parisian red morocco armorial binding, ca. 1585, for Jacques-Marie d'Amboise, double gilt fillets around sides, in centre gilt leafy wreath containing 4 stars, the arms of Amboise, flat spine richly gilt "à feuillages", double gilt fillets near head forming an open quadrilobe containing the title, edges gilt. (Slightly rubbed.)

Provenance: Jacques-Marie d'Amboise (1538-1611), arms on binding — H. Emly, ownership inscription dated 1807 on flyleaf (perhaps Henry Emly, Lincoln's Inn, a Freemason, fl. 1850s; or Henry Emly, mayor of Salisbury, 1818; no sale recorded by Pollard) — Michael Tomkinson (1841-1921), Franch Hall, Kidderminster, his sale, Sotheby's, 3-7 July 1922, lot 1271 (suggesting the binding was by Clovis Ève), £1 2s, Davis & Orioli — Stavros John Papastavrou (d. ca 1979) — sale, Sotheby's, 27-28 June 1991, lot 514. Acquisition: Purchased at the preceding sale. References: BP16 111591; USTC 149163; cf. Renouard, Annales de l'imprimerie des Estienne, p.58: 8 (set of nine vols)