Gregorius Nazianzenus, Orationes XXX, Basel, 1531, contemporary blind-stamped Augsburg pigskin with fore-edge painting, Pillone library

GREGORIUS NAZIANZENUS. Orationes XXX (translated by Willibald Pirckheimer, with contributions by Desiderius Erasmus and Johannes Straub). Basel: Froben, 1531 [bound with:]

MACROBIUS, AMBROSIUS THEODOSIUS.Eiusdem saturnaliorum libri VII. Ex vetustissimis manuscriptis codicibus recogniti & aucti. Saturnalia saturnaliorum libri VII. Basel: Johannes Herwagen, 1535

A VOLUME FROM THE RENOWNED PILLONE LIBRARY, WITH A FORE-EDGE PAINTING BY CESARE VECELLIO (1530-1601). This is one of ten Pillone bindings in the Bibliotheca Brookeriana.

2 works bound in one volume, folio (305 x 200mm). (1) Roman, Greek and italic types, 41 lines plus headline. Collation: a⁴ A–Z⁶ A*⁶ B*⁸ Aa–Hh⁶ Ii–Kk⁸: 220 leaves. Large woodcut printer's device to title and verso of colophon, woodcut initials. (2) Roman, Greek and italic types, 40 lines plus headline. Collation: a–b⁶ c⁸ a–z⁶ A–E⁶: 188 leaves. Woodcut printer’s device on title and recto of last leaf, woodcut initials.

Binding: Contemporary blind-stamped Augsburg white pigskin for Bonaccorso Grino (322 x 222 mm), upper cover with outer empty frame within broad blind lines, inner frame of roll depicting biblical scenes: Adam & Eve, brazen serpent, Crucifixion, Resurrection, another open frame, in narrow central panel 2 rolls, one larger with King David, Resurrection, Saint Paul, and one narrow with vases and putti, on lower cover larger roll appears in frame, 2 clasps, finger tab at start of Macrobius, later fore-edge decoration by Cesare Vecellio commissioned by Odorico Pillone showing an author in profile seated at desk with open book in a study, shelf above with 3 volumes lying flat on a sloping shelf, title running down fore-edge, other edges marbled pink and black. (Binding slightly rubbed and soiled, some wormholes to edges.)

Provenance: Bonaccorso Grino (died 1553), his library at Schloss Burtembach, near Augsburg — Antonio Pillone (1464-1533), inherited by — Odorico Pillone (1503-1594), his library in Casteldardo, near Belluno, inherited by — Giorgio Pillone (1539-1611) — Paolo Maresio Bazolle, who purchased Pillone artworks in 1874, and sold the books with fore-edge paintings to — Sir Thomas Brooke (1830-1908), of Armitage Bridge, armorial bookplate, inherited by — Humphrey Brooke (1914-1988), consigned — Alan Keen Ltd, The Venetian Library collected at the close of the XVI century by Doctor Odorico Pillone and the sides and edges painted by Cesare Vecellio (London, [1947]), item 73 — Pierre Berès, Bibliothèque Pillone bookplate, catalogue (Paris, [1957]), item 101. Acquisition: Purchased in 1989 from Kenneth Nebenzahl, Chicago. References: USTC 626434, VD16 G 3082; USTC 674641; VD16 M 48