Simeoni, Le imprese heroiche et morali, Lyon, 1559, modern tan calf

Simeoni, Gabriele. Le imprese heroiche et morali ritrovate da M. Gabriello Symeoni fiorentino, al Gran Conestabile di Francia. Lyon: Guillaume Rouille, 1559

First edition of this emblem book by Gabriele Simeoni, translator, antiquarian and poet, who is renowned for his antiquarian publications. These emblems were subsequently included in Paolo Giovio's Dialogi dell'imprese militari et amorose, also printed by Rouille, in 1574 (see lot 532). The first two emblems in the text are those of the Emperor Augustus, with the motto "Festina lente", and of Titus, with the dolphin and anchor.

8vo (204 x 150 mm). Italic type, 25 lines plus headline. collation: a-f⁴ g²: 26 leaves. Title with woodcut printer's device, woodcut emblem of author to verso, woodcut initials and headpieces, 35 woodcut devices. (Final two leaves washed, some light marginal browning and soiling).

binding: Twentieth-century tan calf (212 x 153 mm), red morocco label to spine, marbled endpapers. (Extremities slightly rubbed.)

provenance: Allan Heywood Bright (1862-1941), bookplate, sale, Christie's, London, 16 July 2014, part of lot 105. acquisition: Purchased at the preceding sale. references: Adams, Rawles and Saunders F. 527; Landwehr, Romanic Emblem Books 683