Vergil, Symbolarum libri XVII, Augsburg, 1599, Parisian red morocco gilt for Bartolomeo Cenami

[VERGILIUS MARO, PUBLIUS]. Symbolarum libri XVII. Quibus P. Virgilii Maronis Bucolica, Georgica, Aeneis, ex probatissimis auctoribus declarantur, comparantur, illustrantur. Per Jacobum Pontanum de Societate Jesu. Augsburg: (Hans Schultes), 1599

Folio (353 x 225 mm). Roman and italic type, 67 lines plus headline. Collation: a⁶ a-b⁴ c⁶ A² B-Z⁴ Aa-Zz⁴ Aaa-Zzz⁴ A*-Z*⁴ Aa*-Zz* Aaa*-Zzz* Aaaa*-Pppp*⁴ [2]A-I⁴ (a)-(g)⁴ (h)⁶: 699 leaves (of 700, Ff*4 and [2]I4 blank, without final blank.) Engraved title-page, woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, double-page engraved map of the Mediterranean bound after Qq4. (Occasional light browning.)

Binding: Contemporary Parisian red morocco gilt (362 x 243 mm), plausibly by the Royal Binder Clovis Ève, leafy oval centrepiece surrounding a small lion stamp [Olivier 1860 fer 3, listed as an unidentified owner], matching leafy cornerpieces incorporating a small head stamp within a cartouche, two frames of gilt fillets, spine with compartments framed with gilt fillets and containing small lion, flower or leaf stamps, title lettered in second compartment, gilt edges, stubs from two pairs of ties. (Extremities very slightly rubbed, spine a little creased, some repairs to joints.)

Provenance: Bartolomeo Cenami (1556-1611), arms on binding, and note on flyleaf "Dello studio di casa Cenami" — Francesco Maria Conti, inscription at foot of title-page — Ader Picard Tajan & Pierre et Jean Chrétien with Claude Guérin, Précieux livres & manuscrits, Paris, 14 November 1979, lot 67 — Martin Breslauer Inc., catalogue 111 (New York, 1994), item 106. Acquisition: Purchased in 1994 from Martin Breslauer Inc., New York. References: VD16 V 1402