Serlio, Quinto libro d'architettura, Paris, 1547, modern half vellum

SERLIO, SEBASTIANO. Quinto libro d'architettura di Sabastiano Serlio bolognese, Nel quale se tratta de diverse forme de Tempij sacri secondo il costume Christiano, & al modo antico. A la serenissima Regina di Navarra. Traduict en Francois par Ian Martin, Secretaire de Monseigneur le Reverendissime Cardinal de Lenoncourt. Paris: Michel de Vascosan, 1547

FIRST PRINTING of Serlio's treatise on the design of temples and churches, probably composed in Italy in the late 1530s but not printed until after Serlio came to Paris, with the Italian text in italics alongside Jean Martin's French translation in roman type. He dedicated it to Marguerite, Queen of Navarre, the sister of his patron François I. Three states of the title-page are recorded, with that of the present copy being state i (with the imprint expressed "A Paris. | De l'imprimerie de Mi | chel de Vascosan"). 

Folio (339 x 237 mm). Parallel Italian and French text, in italic and roman type, 44 lines plus headline. Collation: A-E⁶ F⁴: 33 leaves (of 34, without final blank). Title-page within woodcut border (state i), 29 woodcut illustrations. (Occasional spotting and light soiling, old marginal repair to F3).

Binding: Modern vellum-backed boards (345 x 244 mm), spine lettered in gilt, red edges.

Provenance: Duchattal(?), early inscription to title-page — Sebastien Bert, early ownership inscriptions at foot of fos 11 and 33. Acquisition: Robin Halwas, 1999. References: Fowler 321 (title-page in state i); Mortimer, Harvard French 493 (title-page in state ii, reproduced); USTC 130015; Vène, Bibliographia Serliana 12