(1549). GIOVIO (Paolo). VITAE DUODECIM VICECOMITUM MEDIOLANI - Lot 234

(1549). GIOVIO (Paolo). VITAE DUODECIM VICECOMITUM MEDIOLANI PRINCIPUM. Paris, Robert Estienne, 1549. In-4°, 199 pages, fawn calf, ornate ribbed spine, mottled edges (18th century binding). First edition of this history of the Visconti dynasty illustrated with 10 SPLENDID ENGRAVED PORTRAITS ON WOOD OF THE DUCS OF MILAN. These woodcuts, signed with a Lorraine cross, are attributed to Geoffroy Tory (see Fairfax-Murray), but may be by Woeriot (see Schreiber). These 10 portraits (130 x 98), each accompanied by a note in which the editor indicates the location of the work he used as a model, are faithful copies of the miniatures in the manuscript preserved at the BNF. A good copy to which a woodcut portrait of the author has been added. Signature of a Burgundian bibliophile "De Migieu" dated 1572 on the last leaf. Armorial bookplate of Nicolas de Richard d'Ivry (1762-1850) mayor of Beaune, with the motto "Virtute non auro". Some spotting to boards, one spine split. (Fairfax-Murray I, n°195) (Schreiber, Estienne n° 104) (Brun, p. 228) (Mortimer, French n°248) (USTC 150389).