Lonicer, Philipp (ed. & transl.) / (Menavino, Giovanantonio). Chronicorum Turcicorum in quibus Turcorum origo, principes, imperatores, bella, praelia, caedes, victoriae, reique militaris ratio, et caetera huc pertinentia [...] exponuntur.

Frankfurt, Johann Wechel for Sigmund Feyerabend, 1584.

8vo. 2 parts in one vol. (16), 435, (13) pp. (16) , 208, (14) pp., final blank f. With woodcut vignettes to both title pages (the first showing an Ottoman warrior, after J. Amman) and two (repeated) printer's devices at the end. Contemporary vellum. Remains of ties.

 2,000.00

First octavo edition of Lonicer's collection of Turkish history, previously published in 1578 as a hefty three-volume folio set with woodcuts attributed to Jost Amman. The present issue is a pretty, handily pocket-sized edition minus the illustrations, incorporating several important changes to the text. Book 2 of the first part still comprises Menavino's "Mahometicae leges, religio, vita" in Lonicer's translation, while Aventin's appendix at the end of part 1 is omitted, as is the entire third volume of the folio edition (Barletius's "Scanderbeg"). The beginning of part 2 includes an important new addition: Contarini's "De bello Turcico", with the description of the Battle of Lepanto.

Binding rubbed; large defects to spine. Interior somewhat browned as common with occasional insignificant waterstains to margins. A few contemporary censorship marks in ink; title page shows contemporary ownership "Ex libris fratris Constantini Cruseni Augustiniani" (obliterated) and of the Augustinians' monastery of St Thomas (Kostel sv. Tomáše) in Prague.

References

VD 16, L 2464. BNHCat L 379. BM-STC German 525. Adams L 1456. Göllner 1773. Atabey 729. Graesse IV, 265. Pétrovitch 48. Hammer 1090. Chauvin XII, 248, 1019 (& cf. 266, 1107). Yerasimos 126. Not in Blackmer (cf. 1030 note).