Fracco, Sacrorum fastorum libri XII, Antwerp, 1559, French calf gilt with arms of Brisard-Tiville

FRACCO, AMBROGIO NOVIDIO. Ambrosii Novidii Fracci ferentinatis Sacrorum fastorum libri XII. Ex eisdem mensium digestio. Antwerp: Jean Bellère, 1559

This copy was bound for Charles Brisard-Tiville (d. 1656), advisor to the Parliament of Paris from 1623 and a keen collector of incunabula and other bibliographical rarities. The binding features his arms in the centre of both covers, surrounded by the characteristic wreath.

12mo (122 x 73 mm). Roman and italic type, 30 lines plus headline. Collation: B-R¹² S⁶: 174 leaves. Woodcut printer's device on title-page, woodcut initials, ruled in red.

Binding: Seventeenth-century French brown calf (127 x 85 mm), richly gilt, double fillets around sides, corner pieces of interlaced strapwork with double-headed eagle in centre and rampant lion at sides, large central armorial [Olivier 700] within a wreath, spine with small gilt eagle, lion and ermine tail in compartments, later red morocco lettering-piece in second compartment. In modern brown cloth drop-backed box. (Binding somewhat rubbed, upper board detached, lower board becoming detached, ends of spine and corners defective.)

Provenance: Charles Brisard-Tiville (d.1656, advisor to the Parliament of Paris), arms on binding — Jean Ballesdens (French lawyer, 1600-1675), inscription on title-page — Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1619-1683), Bibliothecae Colbertinae inscription on title-page (though not found in the 1728 sale catalogue) — [plausibly Charles-Eléonor Colbert (d. 1747)] — Romantic Agony Book Auctions, Auction 40, Brussels, 20-21 November 2009, lot 1009. Acquisition: Purchased at the preceding sale. References: USTC 401027