Item #11015 Bibliotheca Heinsiana. Nicolas Heinsius.
Bibliotheca Heinsiana.
Bibliotheca Heinsiana.
PRICED

Bibliotheca Heinsiana.

Leiden, [A. Elzevier for] J. de Vivie 1682.

Two parts in one volume. 12mo. [ii], 374, [2 blank], 286, [2 blank]p. Small Elzevier Non Solus device on the title.

Contemporary blind-ruled vellum over stiff paper boards (lightly soiled), later gilt-lettered red (title) and green (date) spine labels, edges sprinkled red.

“ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY CONSULTED CATALOGUES OF ITS KIND” (Breslauer & Folter). With some 20,000 volumes it was “the most extensive private collection in Europe assembled for the study of classical antiquity…almost a universal short-title catalogue” (Sibbald). The lots are divided into twelve subjects areas, then internally arranged by size. Polymath and book scout for the Queen of Sweden, Heinsius (1620-81) built a fine personal library of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts, incunables, books on vellum and classical texts annotated in manuscript by, i.a., his father, Gronovius, Junius and J.J. Scaliger.
     Heinsius’ nephew Johan Goes van Absmade (d. 1690) gave this copy — no doubt with the manuscript prices already supplied — to David Knibbe (1639-1701), the Leiden pastor and prolific author, whose manuscript record of the gift is on the front flyleaf. In good condition (lightly browned, some quires more so, one natural paper flaw neatly repaired).
¶Breslauer & Folter, Bibliography: Its History & Development 80; Sibbald, “The Heinsiana” in Documenting the Early Modern Book World edd. Walsby & Constantinidou 141-59; Pollard & Ehrman, Distribution of Books by Catalogue pp. 241-2 (“issue iii”) & no. 231; Willems, Les Elzevier 925.

Item #11015

Price: $5,500.00