The Lives and Deeds of the Popes: The Illuminated Dedication Copy for Pope Clement VIII. From the Collection of the Earl of Roseberry

Ciaconius, Alfonsus Vitae et Gesta summorum Pontificium ... 2 vols. Rome, Stefano Paolino, 1598 - 1601. 4 leaves, 560 p. and 4 leaves, p. 561-1284. Title printed in red and black. Folio (c. 328 x 218 mm). Roman orange-red morocco bindings of the time, richly gilt, the midnight blue oval coat of arms of Pope Clement VIII in the centre (Bindings with minor scuffing, volume II inconspicuously restored at the joints, inside slightly stained in parts). With a large coat of arms of Pope Clement VIII on both titles and more than a thousand papal and cardinal coats of arms, numerous depictions of seals and hundreds of decorative initials, all in woodcut and illuminated in gold, silver and colours.

With over a thousand coats of arms illuminated in gold, silver and colours: bound for Pope Clement VIII.

The work on the lives and deeds of the popes by Alphonsus Ciaconius (Alfonso Chacón) concludes the 16th century not only because of the printing dates 1598 and 1601, but also because it ends with the current pontificate of Clement VIII, whose reforms could also be understood as a »renaissance« of early church conditions. Against this background, our copy claims to be the most »representative« of the century or even of the Christian era - it is that of the Pope himself: The more than a thousand coats of arms were illuminated in gold, silver and colours with incredible heraldic knowledge and tremendous diligence as were the numerous individual images. The two richly ornamented covers show the colourful, delicately decorated coat of arms of Clement VIII on the covers; on the artistically painted edges it is repeated a further time in each case to demonstrate everywhere: This is the copy of the highest representative of Christianity of his time! Later in the possession of the former English Prime Minister, the Earl of Rosebery.

Provenance: Dedication copy for Clement VIII, Pope 1592 - 1605. - Armorial bookplate of Archibald Philip Earl of Rosebery (1847 - 1929); his auction Sotheby's, London, 27.6.1933, no. 473 (with illus.). - Sotheby's auction, 8 April 1935, to Marks. - On the flyleaf illustrated bookplate of John Francis Neylan (1885 - 1960); his auction Sotheby's, London, 28.5.1962, no. 111: £ 1.064. - At the end of vol. II bookplate by Roger Peyrefitte (1907 - 2000); his auction I, Paris, 20.12.1976, no. 32 (with illus. on plate): frs.: 45.000.

Literature: Not in Adams and BM STC Italian; cf. Brunet II, 1 (only later editions); DBI 24, 354f.; cf. Ebert 4239 (only later editions); not in EDIT 16; cf. Graesse II, 155 (only later editions).

This book has been described in great detail in our catalogue 90 “Wunderkammer”, lot 100. Click here to view the eCatalogue or order the printed version in our Online Shop.

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