Coustau, Pegma, Lyon, 1555, later vellum

Coustau, Pierre. Petri Costalii Pegma, cum narrationibus philosophicis. Lyon: Macé Bonhomme, (10 January) 1555

First edition of Coustau's emblem book, containing 95 woodcuts by Pierre Eskrich (a further 27 emblems are not illustrated). It was closely followed by a French translation nine days later, indicating that both versions were conceived at the same time (which was probably in 1553, the date of the privilege). Coustau included not just the motto, emblem and verse description, in accordance with Alciati's established format, but also a longer narratio philosophica, in which he expounded each emblem more fully and with greater context.

The title, Pegma, is the Latin word for a framework or a theatre scaffold.

8vo (167 x 102 mm). Roman and italic type, 31 lines plus headline. collation: a⁸ A-X⁸ a⁴: 180 leaves. Title within a woodcut border and with woodcut device, woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, woodcut illustrations within woodcut frames. (A few small stains.)

binding: Contemporary vellum (173 x 111 mm), spine with calf lettering-piece. (Spine label chipped.)

provenance: Beijers, Utrecht, May 1961, pencil note on inside lower cover — Lisa and Leonard Baskin (1922-2000, artist), ink inscription on inside lower cover. acquisition: Purchased in 1991 from Kenneth Karmiole, Los Angeles. references: Adams, Rawles & Saunders F.200; Landwehr, Romanic emblem books 242; Mortimer, Harvard French 159; von Gültlingen VIII, Macé Bonhomme 209