Cicero, Familiarium epistolarum libri XVI, Paris, 1550, contemporary French panelled calf for Marcus Fugger

CICERO, MARCUS TULLIUS. M. Tul. Ciceronis Familiarium epistolarum libri XVI. Paris: Jean Macé (and Benoît Prévost), 1550

Folio (340 x 215mm). Roman, italic and Greek types. Collation: a⁸ b–z⁶ Aa–Cc⁶ Dd⁸ Ee⁶: 302 leaves. Woodcut printer’s device on title, woodcut initials, commentaries by Corradus, Melanchthon and others framing Cicero’s text.

Binding: Contemporary French panelled calf for Marcus Fugger, blind line and 2 fillets around sides, frame of blind line and 2 fillets with gilt fleuron at outer corners, in centre gilt circular ornament, spine with 6 full and 2 half bands, 1-line title lettered in gilt in first full compartment, gilt fleuron in other compartments, vellum labels at head and tail, plain edges. (Somewhat worn, especially spine ends.)

Provenance: Marcus Fugger (1529-1597) — Fugger family library, sale, Sotheby's, 5 December 1991, lot 83 (part lot), Maggs Bros — Maggs Bros, Catalogue 1141: Early printed books 1483-1597: Continental books including items from a Fugger Library (London 1992), item 16 (£700; "bound for Marcus Fugger … paper label with 18th century Fugger shelf-mark in mss. pasted onto spine"). Acquisition: Purchased in 1992 from Maggs Bros, London. References: USTC 203955 (“lost book”, their entry with a slightly different title)