Telesio, Libellus de coloribus, Paris, 1529, contemporary French tooled calf

Telesio, Antonio. Antonii Thylesii Consentini Libellus de coloribus ubi multa leguntur praeter aliorum opinionem. Paris: Chrétien Wechel, (27 November 1529) [bound with:]

Estienne, Charles. De re hortensi libellus vulgaria herbarum, florum, ac fruticum, qui in hortis conseri solent nomina Latinis vocibus efferre docens ex probatis authoribus. In puerorum gratiam atque utilitatem. Recognitus & auctus. Paris: Robert Estienne, (27 March) 1536

Baif, Lazare de. De re vestiaria libellus, ex Bayfio excerptus, addita vulgaris linguae interpretatione… Secunda editio. Paris: Robert Estienne, (5 May) 1536

Baif, Lazare de. De vasculis libellus adulescentulorum causa ex Bayfio decerptus, addita vulgari Latinarum vocum interpretatione. Paris: (Jean Bignon for) Ambroise Girault, 1535

An interesting Sammelband of Paris imprints in a strictly contemporary binding and with manuscript annotations. One of the previous owners, Jean Guénebauld, was the author of a fictive antiquarian work on the discovery of the tomb of the druid Chydonax in Dijon. Another, Claude le Roy, has written notes relating to perfumes and colours (odores et colores) on the flyleaf, as well as some extracts from Pliny's Natural history at the end of the first work. This book also has the comment "Mulcens me, gannis" written on the title-page in an early hand, which is also recorded on a 1541 Lyon printing of Apicius.

This is the third edition of Telesio's work on colours. While the contents of this volume do not seem connected, Telesio's tract was subsequently included with printings of Baif's works, edited by Charles Estienne (Paris: Robert Estienne, 1536).

4 works in one volume (Telesio bound last), 8vo (161 x 99 mm). Telesio: Roman and italic type, 23 lines plus headline. collation: A-C⁸ D²: 26 leaves. Title within woodcut border, woodcut initials, woodcut printer's device on final verso. Estienne: Roman and italic type, 32 lines plus headline. collation: a-g⁸: 56 leaves. Woodcut Estienne device on title-page. Baif I: Roman and Greek type, 32 lines. collation: A-E⁸: 40 leaves (last leaf blank). Woodcut Estienne device on title-page. Baif II: Roman type, 30 lines. collation: A-D⁸: 32 leaves (last leaf blank). Early annotations. (Some damp-staining, upper corner of first title-page excised.)

binding: Contemporary French blind-stamped calf over pasteboard (167 x 114 mm), plain spine and edges, title lettered across foredge and along foot of textblock. (Binding somewhat rubbed with a few small wormholes, erased inscription on inside lower cover.)

provenance: Claude le Roy, early inscription on inside front cover — Jean Guénebauld (died 1630, doctor of medicine), inscription on title-page — B. Perard, inscription on first title-page dated 1633. acquisition: Purchased in 2010 from E.K. Schreiber, New York. references: Telesio: BP16 106116; Renouard, Estienne p.42; Estienne: BP16 108164; Renouard, Estienne p.44; Baif I: BP16 108040; Baif II: BP16 107745