Serlio, Den eersten (-vijfsten) boeck van Architecturen, Antwerp, 1553, near-contemporary calf

Serlio, Sebastiano. Den eersten (-tweeden) boeck van Architecturen Sebastiani Serlij, tracterende van Geometrye. Overgesedt Wten Jtaliaensche in nederlandts duer Peeter Coeke van Aelst doen ter tijt Schildere der K. Maiesteyt. Antwerp: Mayken Verhulst (widow of Pieter Coecke van Aelst), 1553 [bound with:]

Die aldervermaertste Antique edificien van templen, theatren, amphiteatren, paleisen, thermen, obeliscen, bruggen, archentriumphal &c. beschreven ende gefigureert met haren gronden en maten oock de plaetsen daerse staen en wiese dede maken. Antwerp: Gillis Coppens van Diest for Pieter Coecke van Aelst, April 1546

Reglen van Metselrijen, op de vijve manieren van Edificien, te wetene, Thuscana, Dorica, Ionica, Corinthia ende Composita: ende daer by gesedt die exemplen vanden Antijquen, die in dmeeste deel met de leeringe van Vitruvio overcommen. Met noch toeghesedtte Figuren die int eerste niet en waren, ende sommige texten vanden Aueteur gebetert hier oock bygesedt. Antwerp: Pieter Coecke van Aelst, 1549

Den vijfsten boeck van Architecturen Sebastiani Serli, inden welcken van diversche formen der Templen getracteert wordt nae de maniere vanden Antijken ende oock dienende voer de Kerstenen. Overgesedt Wten Jtaliaensche in nederlandts duer Peeter Coeke van Aelst doen ter tijt Schildere der K. Maiesteyt. Antwerp: Mayken Verhulst (widow of Pieter Coecke van Aelst), 1553

First edition in Flemish of books 1, 2, 3 and 5, second Flemish edition of Book 4. The translator, Pieter Coecke van Aelst (1502-1550), was an archetypal Renaissance man—whose talents extended to painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, woodcut design, goldsmith's work, stained glass, tapestries, and languages. His translations of Serlio's works were closely based on the Italian editions, but employ the "cuts and text in a more rational way, to make better use of the page and avoid the blank half-pages which occur in the Italian editions". van Aelst's translations were pirated editions, and in Book 3, Serlio's name is "entirely stricken from the text" (BAL RIBA).

4 parts in one volume, folio (349 x 243 mm). Gothic type. collation: A-C⁴ D²; A-G⁴ (G4 blank); A-R⁴ S⁶; A-S⁴; A-D⁴: 204 leaves. Titles to Books 1, 2, 4, and 5 within woodcut architectural border, title to Book 3 above woodcut of ruined arcade, Books 1-4 with contemporary marginalia in brown ink written in Italian and Flemish (most extensive in Book 2), Books 3 and 4 with many plates skilfully hand-coloured with grey, pink, green, red, blue, brown, and/or gold washes. (Some marginal dampstaining, Book 4 title with tear at lower margin, not affecting woodcut border or text.)

binding: Early brown calf (362 x 260 mm), multiple blind fillets around sides, gilt floral tool at outer angles, in centre gilt lozenge cartouche containing 14 stars, spine with small gilt floral tool in compartments, plain edges. (Binding heavily restored and repaired).

provenance: Old shelfmark in brown ink ("D | F71.") to upper margin of front free endpaper. acquisition: Purchased in 2016 from Librairie Hogier, Paris. references: BAL RIBA 2969 (book 3); Fowler 305 (books 1-2), 323 (book 5); STCV 12916197 (books 1-2); USTC 400799 (book 4); Vène, Bibliographia Serliana 22, 23, 11, 10, 24