(1558). SYMEONI (Gabriel). THE ILLUSTRIOUS ANTIQUE OBSERVATI - Lot 305

(1558). SYMEONI (Gabriel). THE ILLUSTRIOUS ANTIQUE OBSERVATIONS OF THE FLORENTINE LORD GABRIEL SYMEON. En son dernier voyage d'Italie l'an 1557. Lyon, by Jean de Tournes, 1558. In-4° of [16]-134-2bl. pages, stiff ivory vellum, gilt fillet on boards, gilt edges (19th century binding). First edition. In his dedication dated August 1, 1558 to Prince Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine, Symeoni (1509-1575) indicates that he composed the text in 2 languages. This French version was the first to be printed, while the second in Italian was dated August 20th of the same year: "This work, admirably printed, is adorned with 51 woodcuts reproducing inscriptions, ancient steles, medals and statues. Some vignettes attributed to Bernard Salomon are of great merit, in particular, p. 29, the Fountain of Vaucluse, p. 96, the Fountain of Anet and p. 97 the metamorphosis of Actéon. And also 12 wooden signs of the zodiac in the Roman calendar. The ingenuity of the layout is quite remarkable". (Brun, Le livre illustré de la Renaissance, p. 294). A very good copy. (USTC 41595) (Mortimer, French n°497) (Cartier n°420).