Martin Gosky | Arbustum vel Arboretum, Wolfenbüttel, 1650

Martin Gosky

Arbustum vel Arboretum. Wolfenbüttel: Johann and Heinrich Stern, 1650

FIRST EDITION, with the first issue title, folio (297 x 186 mm), engraved frontispiece, 41 in-text engravings (of which 27 full-page), 4 (only, of 7) folding engravings, later binding of missal waste, red speckled edges, marginal spotting to first few leaves, lacking 3 folding plates (1 exterior and 2 interior views of the church in Wolfenbüttel, the former provided in facsimile)

A lavishly illustrated anthology in honour of August II, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg, (also known as Gustavus Selenus, see lots 60-62). August II was a polymath and amongst his achievements was the first German Chess instruction book, Schach-oder Konigspiel. He was also renowned as a book collector, founding the Herzog August Bibliothek at Wolfenbüttel, one of Europe's greatest libraries.

The volume includes the full-page engraving "Schachia-Land" on p.162.

PROVENANCE:

Heinrich Herman Hartman, ownership inscription dated 1670; "L. Löben", pasted-in ownership inscription dated 1686

LITERATURE:

USTC 2051843; VD17 23:252195P; Faber du Faur 836