Beschreibung:

DE BRY, Johann Theodor (1561-1623) and Johann Israel DE BRY (c. 1565- c.1609). Emblemata saecularia... Weltliche lustige neuwe Kunststück, der jetzigen Welt lauff fürbildende…. Frankfurt: Io. Theodor and Io. Israel de Bry, 1596. [ Bound with :] BRUCK, Jacobus à. Emblemata pro toga et sago . Nuremberg: Widow and Heirs of Paul Fürst, [c. 1690].
DE BRY, Johann Theodor (1561-1623) and Johann Israel DE BRY (c. 1565- c.1609). Emblemata saecularia... Weltliche lustige neuwe Kunststück, der jetzigen Welt lauff fürbildende…. Frankfurt: Io. Theodor and Io. Israel de Bry, 1596. [ Bound with :] BRUCK, Jacobus à. Emblemata pro toga et sago . Nuremberg: Widow and Heirs of Paul Fürst, [c. 1690]. 2 works in one volume, 4º (175 x 134mm). First work: Engraved allegorical title border, 101 engraved plates (of 102?) by Theodor de Bry comprising an introductory plate of Minerva seated with blank shield, 50 numbered plates of emblems, and 50 (of 51?) unnumbered plates of blank escutcheons, some repeated. (Title cut down at margins and mounted, some text margins cut close.) Second work: Title in red and black, 45 numbered engraved plates of emblems. (Some browning.) Late 17th-century green vellum, covers with triple fillet border and centrally placed arms of the marquis de Ménars [Olivier 185, fer 1], his gilt monogram repeated in spine panels, red edges (some darkening and discolouration, rubbing to joints and corners, upper joints slightly split). Provenance : Jean-Jacques Charron, marquis de Ménars (1644-1718; binding) – [Armand Gaston, Cardinal de Rohan (1674-1749)] --- Charles de Rohan, Prince de Soubise (1715-1787; his shelfmark on front pastedown; in his sale, 12 January 1789, part of lot 4247). A CHOICE COPY OF TWO EMBLEM BOOKS. RARE FIRST EDITION OF THE EMBLEMATA SAECULARIA WITH ENGRAVINGS AFTER PETER BREUGHEL THE ELDER, BOUND FOR THE MARQUIS DE MENARS . The Emblemata saecularia by the brothers De Bry is illustrated with evocative and fantastical engravings, six after Breughel the Elder and the remainder after Hieronymous Bosch, Hans Bol and Martin de Vos, among others. The work consists of an engraved allegorical title, a portrait of Minerva and 100 plates of escutcheons and compositions printed in alternation. Collations of copies vary but may in fact represent different ways of describing the same number of plates and escutcheons. For instance, Praz calls for 50 plates and 52 escutcheons but does not mention the engraved title or Minerva plate; Praz cites the White Knight-Yates Thompson-Bright copy and the Asburnham-Edwards-Hoe copy (sale New York, 12 Nov.1912, lot 935), both of which contain the Minerva plate plus 50 plates and 50 escutcheons, as does the present copy. Jacobus à Bruck's Emblemata comprises 45 plates selected from his Emblemata moralia & bellica, published in 1615. Jean-Jacques Charron, marquis de Menars (1644-1718), brother-in-law of Colbert, purchased the de Thou library when it was sent to auction in 1680. In 1706, this collection, enlarged by Menars, totalled 20,000 volumes and was purchased by Cardinal de Rohan, Prince de Soubise. Afterwards, the marquis de Menars built up a second library which was put up for sale in 1720 by the Dutch dealer Abraham de Hondt. Praz, pp. 47-50 & 290. Landwehr, German 154. Adams B-2981. Ad 2: Praz, p. 287. Landwehr, German 149. Princeton 147. For Ménars, see Olivier, Hermal, De Roton pl. 185 (fers 1 & 4) and Guigard II, 125-126. For De Thou and Soubise, see Antoine Coron, 'Quelques aspects de la bibliothèque de Jacques-Auguste de Thou' in Bulletin du bibliophile (1988); Soultrait 17 th century 52.