Velius, Monosticha regum, Vienna, 1528, contemporary Austrian brown calf

VELIUS, CASPAR URSINUS. Hoc in libello haec continentur. Monosticha regum Italiae, Albanorum, Romanorum & virorum illustrium, tum caesarum usque ad nostram aetatem. Monosticha summorum Pontificum Romanorum... Vienna: Johann I Singriener, 1528

Plausibly a presentation copy given to Bernardo Cles (1485-1539), Prince-Bishop of Trent, to whom the edition is dedicated. The copy does not feature a presentation inscription, but it has an ownership inscription, likely in Cles' own hand. The eagle on the upper cover is the emblem of the Prince-Bishops of Trent.

4to (202 x 142 mm). Roman type with marginalia in italics, 29 line plus headline. Collation: A-E⁴: 20 leaves. Early manuscript inscription on upper endleaf, manuscript list of popes and shelfmark on lower pastedown in 2 hands. (Slight browning, dampstaining.)

Binding: Contemporary Austrian, probably Viennese, brown calf (206 x 154 mm), tooled in blind and gold, upper cover with wavy interlaced ropework at head and foot, inner frame formed by multiple blind fillets, in centre a rectangular frame containing imperial eagle, gilt lettering reading MONOSTI | CHA, date 1528 gilt at inner angles, roll tool with leafy decoration and grapes, lower cover similar but with 3 vertical rolls in central panel, spine with 3 bands, deckle edges at tail-edge, plain edges, traces of green fabric ties. (Binding slightly rubbed, corners and joints repaired, joints cracking.)

Provenance: Bernardo Cles (1485-1539), Prince-Bishop of Trent, ownership inscription on upper endleaf — inscription "jac^o bosetto" on upper endleaf — Roberto Almagià (1884-1962), bookplate on upper pastedown. Acquisition: Purchased in 2017 from Mayfair Rare Books, London. References: USTC 663745; VD16 U 354