From the library of the miniaturist Johann Spiegler, with coloured title page

Apian, Petrus. Inscriptiones sacrosanctae vetustatis non illae quidem Romanae, sed totius fere orbis summo studio ac maximis impensis Terra Marique conquistae feliciter incipiunt.

Ingolstadt, P. Apianus, 1534.

Folio (210 x 294 mm). (40), DXII, (8) pp. Title page printed in red and black. With large emblematic title woodcut after Albrecht Dürer, hand-coloured around 1730; woodcut printer's device on verso of final leaf. With coloured woodcut arms of Raimund Fugger, 7 large woodcut initials showing astronomical and mathematical motifs, and 184 woodcut illustrations. Text surrounded by various woodcut borders throughout. Contemp. vellum with ms. spine title.

 9,500.00

Only edition.

Printed at the expense of the banker Raimund Fugger, this work presents classical inscriptions and statues collected all over Europe (of which many were in Fugger's own collection). The text is based on earlier studies by Peutinger, Pirckheimer, and others. An exceptionally fine work from the private press of Peter Apianus (1495-1552), mainly known as a mathematician and geographer. Title woodcut by Hans Brosamer (after Dürer) and Fugger's coat of arms (by M. Ostendorfer) splendidly hand-coloured and raised in gilt; undoubtedly the work of the book's previous owner, Johann Spiegler, who signs his name beneath the imprint on the title page ("Annumeror libris Joannis Spiegleri Juliomagensis"). Spiegler is known as a Constance miniaturist active during the first half of the 18th century (cf. Brun, SKL III, 1913) and is sometimes identified with the Constance painter Franz Joseph (Johann) Spiegler (1691-1757; cf. Thieme/Becker XXXI, 370f.).

Slight dampstains and edge tears near end; occasional paper loss remargined. Page tt1r (the printed area of which reaches far into the margin) lacks the final character of the right column. An uncommonly beautiful copy, last in the collection of the Maryland pharmaceutical investor Charles W. Newhall.

References

VD 16, A 3086. IA 106.422. Adams A 1291. BM-STC (German) 37. Stalla 85. Brunet I, 342. Van Ortroy 109. Günther (Apian) 20f.