Epitome Thesauri Antiquitatum…Ex museo Jacobi de Strada.
Zürich, A. Gessner d.J. 1557.
8vo. [lxxii], 335 [r. 333]p. THREE HUNDRED NINETY-ONE WHITE-LINE WOODCUT IMPERIAL BUST PORTRAITS (38/9 mm.) and ninety-seven woodcut medals with lettered borders but no likenesses.
Contemporary gilt and painted flexible vellum wrapper, central rectangle of a single black line of paint flanked by two gilt rules, gilt corner fleurons with the interiors painted black, blue edges, black and yellow silk headbands, black silk ties (decor restored), green edges.
STRADA’S PRIVATE COLLECTION CATALOG IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT Renaissance reference works on ancient coins and medals, particularly for its Greek specimens. Its portraits and biographies of Roman emperors and their female relatives informed collectors, middle-class readers and scholars. ITS IMAGES SERVED ARTISTS AS MODELS. Strada sold art to Emperors Ferdinand I and Maximilian II, Duke Albrecht of Bavaria and the Fuggers. The present dedication to Hans Fugger (1516-75) is dated 1 January 1557. In fine condition, elegant contemporary signature of Christophorus Kressen on the title, 17th/18th-century etched bookplate of the Nürnberg Kress von Kressenstein family, bookplates of Michel De Bry and the Vershbows.
¶Cunnally et al., Numismatics in the Age of Grolier 39-40; VD 16 S 9364.
Price: $4,500.00