Serlio, Extraordinario libro di architettura, Venice, 1557, later half calf

Serlio, Sebastiano. Extraordinario libro di architettura... nel quale si dimostrano trenta porte di opera rustica mista con diversi ordini: et venti di opera dilicata di diverse specie con la scrittura davanti, che narra il tutto. Venice: Giovanni Battista & Melchiorre Sessa, 1557

A rare edition of what later came to be known as Serlio's Sixth Book, though the title indicates that it was not designed to be part of Serlio's treatise. It was subsequently included in the standard editions of Serlio, beginning in 1563. The plates are reverse copies of Jean de Tournes' 1551 first edition.

Folio (372 x 258 mm). Roman type. collation: A⁶: 6 leaves. Title-page with woodcut device, 50 numbered engraved plates depicting gates and doors. (Many plates with slight marginal worming at inner margin.)

binding: Early nineteenth-century calf-backed marbled boards (375 x 271 mm), green morocco spine label, yellow edges. (Recornered and repaired at head of spine).

acquisition: Purchased in 1997 from Sokol Books, London. references: Edit16 58940 (recording seven copies; USTC lists two more); Vène, Bibliographia Serliana 25; cf. Mortimer, Harvard Italian 475 (1560 Sessa edition); not in BAL RIBA (but see footnote to 2966)