(1573). MERCURIALIS (Jérôme). DE ARTE GYMNASTICA LIBRI SEX. - Lot 350

(1573). MERCURIALIS (Jérôme). DE ARTE GYMNASTICA LIBRI SEX. Secunda editione aucti et multis figuris ornati. Venice, apud Juntas, 1573. In-4° of [12]-312 (badly chiffr. 308)-[28] pages, velin souple (modern binding). FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST ILLUSTRATED BOOK ON GYMNASTICS. The original, published in Venice in 1569, had no illustrations. The 24 FINE woodcuts, 23 of which are full-page, are attributed to Christophe Coriolano, illustrator attached to Prince Philippe of Spain, son of Emperor Charles V. These woodcuts are very important for the history of sports and body hygiene; they depict athletes exercising, boxing, weightlifting, dancing, discus, rope-climbing... Some woodcuts also show the layout of a gymnasium or the interior of a bathhouse. Light dry spotting not severe, one book yellowed, vellum badly worked (USTC 763167, 13 copies) (Mortimer, Italian no. 302).