Cicero, Orationum, Paris, 1543, 2 volumes, contemporary French gilt panel-stamped calf

CICERO, MARCUS TULLIUS. M. Tullii Ciceronis orationum volumen primum. In quo multa, quae in aliarum editionum libris corrupte legebantur, ex diligenti vetustorum exemplarium collatione sunt emendata (Orationum volumen secundum). Paris: Robert Estienne, (16 February; 23 March) 1543

These are the first two volumes of three volumes of speeches printed by Robert Estienne as part of a nine-volume set of Cicero’s works, reprinted from the 1540 Aldine edition; a set of six volumes were uniformly bound with this distinctive panel stamp. The set was only split up after they were sold in 1954; the catalogue illustrates the set of six together, also indicating that the volumes had lettering-pieces on the spines which are now missing. For another volume from this set of Cicero in the same panel-stamped binding, see following lot.

2 volumes (of 3), 8vo (166 x 97 mm). Italic type, 31 lines plus headline. Collation: (1) *⁴ b-z⁸ aa-tt⁸; (2) A-Z AA-LL⁸: 332 + 272 leaves (LL7-8 blank). Woodcut Estienne device on title-pages, ruled in red. (Title and flyleaves in volume 2 detached.)

Binding: Contemporary French gilt panel-stamped calf (173 x 113 mm), panel stamp containing an arrangement of leafy azured stamps, spine with small flower stamp gilt in compartments, edges gilt and gauffered to a matching leafy pattern, stubs from two pairs of ties. (Spines with substantial repairs and neat repairs to edges of boards, all with matching tooling, a few small wormholes in lower board of volume 2, lacking lettering-pieces.)

Provenance: Edward Huth (1847-1935), armorial bookplate of Wykehurst Park, sale, Sotheby’s, 2-4 July 1923, lot 89 (a six-volume set of Cicero uniformly bound), to Maggs — Sotheby’s, 8-9 November 1954, lot 91 (all 6 volumes), £35, to Melville. Acquisition: Purchased in 1993 from Rossignol, Paris. References: BP16 111098 (3 volumes); USTC 149055 & 199901