Religions in the 16th century.
The rare first edition of the earliest book
relating to the religions of the varied nations of the world,
with a passage mentioning the discoveryof the New World
by Christopher Columbus.
STAMLER, Johannes. Dyalogus Johannis Stamler Augustn. De Diversarum Gencium Sectis et Mundi Religionibus. [au colophon on lit :] Impressum Auguste : per Erhardum oglin. & Ieorgiu Nadler Cura correctone et diligentia venerabilis domini Wolfgangi Aittinger pspiteri Augusten. Ac bonarum Artium zc. Magistri Colloniens Anno nostre salutis 150. & . 8. die. 22. mensis May. Zc. [i.e. 1508].
Augsburg, Oeglin et Nadler, 22 mai 1508.
Folio [308 x 212 mm], (1) bl.l., (3) ff. with the frontispiece and the title, ff. numbered 2 to 32, (2) ff. of index, (1) bl.l.
Pale waterstain in the margin of 5 ff. A tear without loss at the frontispiece. An owner’s stamp in the margin of the frontispiece. Bound in 16th Century limp vellum, handwritten title on spine.
Rare first edition of the earliest work relating to the religions of the varied nations of the world.
Graesse, Trésor de livres, p. 477 ; Sabin 90127 ; Brunet, supp. II, 685; Harrisse 51 ; Historical Nuggets 2603.
The present text is also of the highest interest as it contains a passage mentioning the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus.
« A dramatic composition relating to the religions of the Tartars, Saracens, Turks, Jews and others, and their confutation. The American interest is found on the verso of the third leaf, in a letter from Stamler to Joseph Lorcher, dated, “13. klas Junii Anno. 6.” which is translated by Harrisse as follows: “I do not make any mention of the newly discovered islands, but of Christopher Colom, the discoverer of a world, and of Albericus Vespucius: On the discovery of the new world (to whom our age is chiefly indebted) behold what treatise I send you.” See Harrisse, B.A.V., n°51. The elaborate woodcut title page was engraved by Hans Burgkmaier, and is repeated on the reverse of the leaf”. (Sabin 90127).
« An extremely rare and curious Drama described on the leaf following the title as ‘Dyalogus in modum comici dramatis formatus a J. Stamler de Tartarorum, Saracenorum, Turcorum, Judeorum et Gentilium Sectis et Religionibus ac eorundem Confutatione, &c.’ The letter from Stamler to Jacob Lorcher, dated 13 Kal. Junii 1506, is of the highest interest to American collectors, as he mentions by name Christopher Columbus and Albericus Vespucius as the discoverers of the New World. The Drama has a marginal Commentary, which is important not only to theologians as pointing out heresies, but also to the astronomer. Stamler seems to have been an enemy to judicial astrology.” (Harrisse).
This work is also the first book to be illustrated by Hans Burgkmair. The superb frontispiece, here in the first state, represents the varied religions, Pope Julian II and the Emperor Maximilian I. This engraving is only present in the first edition.
« The woodcut was used only in the first edition, of which twenty-five copies have been located so far.” (Elizabeth M. Nugent, PMLA, 1938, ‘Johannes Stamler’s Dyalogus’, p. 989).
Only 25 copies of this first edition were known in 1938.
A beautiful copy of this rare work preserved in its 16th century limp vellum.
Price: € 12 000
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The extremely rare first Parisian edition of this Protestant book,
illustrated with 97 woodcuts attributed to Jean Cousin,
preserved in its fine contemporary Parisian binding.
OSIANDER. Harmonie Evagelicae libri quatuor, in quibus evangelica historia […].
Paris, Galliot du Pré, 1544.
[Bound with]: -IGNACE D’ANTIOCHE (Saint). Sancti Martyris Ignatii, Antiochiae Archiepiscopi, Epistolae.
Paris, Guillaume Morel, 1558.
2 works in 1 volume 8vo[155 x 101 mm], (4) ff., 160 ff.; (2) bl.ll., (4), 80 pp. Bound in contemporary light-brown calf, blind-stamped fillets and gilt fleurons on covers, spine ribbed decorated with blind-stamped fillets and small floral designs. Few stains on the binding. Binding in the style of the bindings made for Marcus Fugger.
Exceedingly rare first Parisian edition of this Protestant book.
Brunet, IV, 248 ; Cat. des livres précieux de la bibliothèque Firmin-Didot, 481 ; Brun, p.262 ; Yemeniz 182.
André Osiander (1498-1552), a Protestant theologian and a follower of Luther, was one of the first to embrace the Protestant Reformation, supporting Luther during the diet of Augsburg.
This work is extremely rare because it had become very dangerous to own or sell Protestant books in Paris during the Reformation. Since the publication of the works of Luther and Calvin, persecutions of Protestants were on the increase. The humanist Etienne Dolet was burnt at the stake in Paris on the 3rd of August 1546. That’s why the present work is much rarer then other Parisian illustrated books from the same period of time.
The present text had already been published in 1537 in Basel (folio) and in 1540 in Antwerp, but the present work is the first edition published in France.
The superb illustration consists of 97 finely engraved woodcuts attributed to Jean Cousin.
96 vignettes (32 x 53 mm) represent the life of Christ, the other one (78 x 55 mm) depicts the Pentecost.
The other work in Latin which is bound with this text is the second edition of the letters of Saint Ignace.
A very beautiful copy of this rare work, preserved in its attractive contemporary Parisian binding typical of the bindings made for Marcus Fugger.
Only 2 copies are recorded in public institutions: Bibliothèque municipale de Châlons-en-Champagne and NYPL.
Price: € 12 500
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The rare first edition of this work dedicated to the Ottoman Empire,
handsomely illustrated by the de Bry brothers.
Frankfurt, 1597.
BRY, Johann Theodor et Johann Israel. I. Acta Mechmeti i Saracenorum Principis natales, vitam, victorias, imperium et mortem eius ominosam complectencia. Genealogia successorum eiusdem ad modernum usque Mechmetem III.
II. Vaticinia. Severi et Leonis in Oriente…
Frankfurt, Jo. Theodorum & Jo. Israelem de Bry, 1597.
2 parts in 1 volume 4to [18.9 x 14.7 cm]. (1), (8) pp. with the frontispiece, the dedication and the notice to the reader, pp. 1-58, (1) bl.l., pp. 59-96, (6) pp. with the index, (1) bl.l.
Contemporary limp vellum, title handwritten on the spine, ties.
Rare first edition of this important work dedicated to the Ottoman empire.
Cicognara 1863 ; Praz S. 291 ; Göllner 2286 ; Blackmer Coll 464 ; Atabey 331.
The text is divided into 2 distinct parts. The first one recounts the history of Islam since its creation by Mahomet until the sultanate of Mahomet III from 1595 to 1603; the second part relates a prophecy of the fall of the Ottoman Empire.
The rich and superb illustration by the Bry brothers consists of 9 plates in the first work illustrating the life of the prophet and 16 finely engraved emblems in the second text.
« Dieci tavole oltre il bellissimo frontespizio ornano il primo opusculetto, e 16 emblemi intagliati con grande accuratezza trovansi nel secondo. In tutto tavole 26 accompagnate dal testo relativo ». (Cicognara 1863).
A very fine copy of this rare work dedicated to the Ottoman Empire, preserved in its contemporary vellum.
The last copy to appear at auction was sold by Sotheby’s London on the 28th of May 2002 for £ 9 560 (= € 15 000). It was bound in 19th century morocco by Hardy and was missing 3 leaves.
Price: € 16 500
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A presentation copy with the author’s handwritten ex dono,
entirely contemporary hand-coloured and heightened with gold.
LE PETIT, Jean-François. La grande chronique ancienne et moderne, de Hollande, Zélande, West-Frise, Utrecht, Frise, Overyssel & Groeningen, jusques à la fin de l’An 1600.
Dordrecht, Jacob Canin « pour l’auteur », 1601.
2 parts in 2 volumes small folio [304 x 193 mm]: I/ (2) bl.ff., (11) ff. including the frontispiece, 650 pp., (1) l., 240 pp., (9) ff., (2) bl.ll. and 41 full-page plates; II/ (3) bl.ll., (8) ff. including the frontispiece, 779 pp., (8) ff., (3) bl.ll. and 17 full-page plates.
Bound in 17th Century full calf, spine ribbed and richly gilt, mottled edges.
First edition, already described as « assez rare » by Brunet in 1860.
Bibl. Belg. III 822-825 L-60 ; Briels pp. 223-224 ; Hollstein 648-684.
It is particularly sought-after for its interesting illustration.
This Chronicle of Holland is also sought-after in France because it’s a history of Protestantism from one part of this country.
The volume is illustrated with 60 full-page engravings engraved after Christoffel I van Sichem (1546-1624), that is to say 2 historiated frontispieces, 57 full-page portraits of the greatest figures of the Netherlands and 1 allegorical engraving.
Superb presentation copy offered by the author, with the handwritten mention on the title-page “donum auctoris”, of which the 60 engravings were brilliantly contemporary hand-coloured and enhanced with gold.
The copy is perfectly well preserved.
Provenance: ex libris Isaac Meulman.
Price: € 14 500
