Sacrarvm Antiqvitatvm Monvmenta.
Antwerp, C. Plantin 1577.
8vo (160 x 105 mm.). [xvi], 95p. THIRTY-NINE FULL-PAGE ENGRAVED PORTRAITS OF OLD TESTAMENT FIGURES BY JAN SADELER after drawings by Crispijn van den Broeck, Peter van der Borcht and Abraham de Bruyn, full-page engraved portrait of the author, a woodcut Plantin device on the title.
Blind-ruled Jansenist crushed blue morocco (Duru 1852; extremities rubbed), gilt-lettered spine title and date, all edges gilt, pink silk marker.
Only Edition of this Old Testament handbook and iconography. Here Hillessemius (or Hillesheim) offers Old Testament heroes, kings, prophets and patriarchs as models for both children and adults. This has been considered both an emblem and a coin book. In good condition, bookplate of the discriminating Lille collector van der Helle (Catalogue (1868) 327 “magnifiques gravures”), tipped-in carte de visite of lawyer Jules Mossé with his presentation inscription to an unidentified recipient.
¶Dekesel, Bibliotheca nummaria H 15; Praz, Studies in 17th-Century Imagery 639; Universal Catalogue of Books on Art I: 836; Voet, The Plantin Press 1335; STCV 12927513.
Price: $2,800.00