Herodotus, Libri VIIII Musarum nominibus inscripti, Lyon, 1558, tan calf, richly gilt for Pfinzing von Henfenfeld

HERODOTUS. Herodoto Halicarnassei historiographi Libri VIIII. Musarum nominibus inscripti. Eiusdem De genere vitaque Homeri libellus, Conrado Heresbachio interprete. Lyon: heirs of Sébastien Gryphe, 1558

Thirty-seven bindings are now known with the motto “Patriae et Amicis” lettered on their upper covers, the date 1568 (in Roman numerals) on lower covers, and the author’s name on the back. Three such bindings were mentioned by G.D. Hobson in 1926; six were identified by Mirjam Foot in 1975, and Anthony Hobson in 2006 expanded her list to eight. The books appear to have been bound for Paul Pfinzing von Henfenfeld (1523-1570), an imperial councillor and personal secretary to Charles V and to Philip II of Spain. Paul died in Madrid and his library evidently was dispersed there. About a dozen bindings bearing the motto “Patriae et Amicis” and date “1568” were acquired by Gaspar Téllez-Girón, 5th Duque de Osuna (1625-1694), and are now in the Biblioteca Nacional de España and Biblioteca de la Universitat, Barcelona. The Jesuit Pierre Robinet (1656-1738), appointed Confessor to Philip V in 1705, acquired fourteen bindings with the same lettering. Robinet later became rector of the Jesuit College in Strasbourg and his library afterwards migrated into the Bibliothèque du Grand Séminaire. (Anthony Hobson, “Three plaquette bindings and a German collector” in Bibliophilies et reliures: Mélanges offerts à Michel Wittock, edited by Annie de Coster & Claude Sorgeloos (Brussels 2006), pp.265-269.)

8vo (118 x 68mm). Roman and italic types, 29 lines and headline. Collation: a-z⁸ A-Z⁸ aa-rr⁸ ss⁶: 510 leaves. Woodcut printer’s device on title, ruled in red. (Early ownership inscription erased from title).

Binding: Contemporary Parisian(?) tan calf, richly gilt, elaborate gilt corner fleuron of azured foliage, field filled with tiny solid tulips, scrollwork central oval medallion with a larger azured tulip at top and bottom, in oval on upper cover "PATRIAE ET AMICIS" and on lower "MDLXVIII", flat spine with horizontal title "HERODOTVS", edges plain gilt, red cloth box. (Hinges and foot of spine worn.)

Provenance: Pfinzing von Henfenfeld, family library (Nuremberg), supralibros, motto "Patriae et Amicis" on upper cover and date "MDLXVIII", Paul Pfinzing von Henfenfeld (1523-1570) (for an exlibris with this motto dated 1569 engraved by Matthias Zundt, see Ilse O'Dell, Deutsche und österreichische Exlibris, 1500-1599, im Department of Prints and Drawings im Britischen Museum (London, 2003), nos 294-296; the same motto also appears on Paul Pfinzing's medals — Bruce McKittrick Rare Books, Narbeth, PA, Catalog 52 (2007), item 39. Acquisition: Purchased in 2007 from Bruce McKittrick Rare Books. References: von Gültlingen, V: Gryphe 1385; USTC 152507