Sacrvm Sanctvarivm Crvcis Et Patientiae Crvcifixorvm Et Crvciferorvm, Emblematicis Imaginibus Laborantivm Et Ægrotantivm Ornatvm.
Antwerp, B. Moretus at the Plantin Office 1634.
4to (233 x 165 mm.). [ii], engraved title, [xx], 678, [19], [3 blank]p. Half title and dedication printed in red and black, SEVENTY ENGRAVED CRUCIFIXION SCENES BY ADRIAEN COLLAERT, six smaller emblematic engravings (one repeated), engraved title-page with allegorical image of Patience and the Lamb of God.
Gilt-panelled red morocco (David & Domont), inner frames with foliate corner ornaments, spine gilt, EDGES GILT — THE OUTER AND LOWER UNCUT, i.e., gilt on the rough.
Only Edition, large and untrimmed. “THE FIRST JESUIT PUBLICATION EXPLICITLY TO USE THE TERM EMBLEMATIC IMAGE” (Melion & Dekoninck). These spiritual exercises are inspired by seventy crucified martyrs. The final section is devoted to women. Most profiles are drawn from ancient history, but they include THE ANDROGYNOUS MEDIEVAL FOLK SAINT WILGEFORTIS, who grew a beard to avoid an unwanted marriage and was crucified by her father. Among contemporary figures are THE TWENTY-SIX MARTYRS OF JAPAN EXECUTED IN 1597 AND THE JAPANESE CHRISTIAN MAGDALENA MINAMI, crucified with Joanna and Agnes Takeda in 1603 at Yatsushiro. An engraving illustrates each martyrdom.
Moretus purchased the plates (cut for Ricci’s 1608 Triumphus Iesu Christi crucifixi) and had them retouched by Karel van Mallery. To settle a dispute over pricing, Moretus sent Bivero an additional two leaf gathering — present here — for the author to insert in his twenty-four personal copies. Very good condition (scattered spots), from the libraries of Robert Hoe (1839-1909, morocco booklabel and gilt monogram, Catalogue (1911) 383), Thomas Jefferson Coolidge, Jr. (1831-1920, bookplate) and David Godine (bookplate).
¶Melion & Dekoninck, “Jesuit Illustrated Books” in The Oxford Handbook of the Jesuits ed. Županov 532; Bibliotheca japonica 262; Imhof, “Petrus Biverus’s Sacrum Oratorium and Sacrum Sanctuarium” in The Library 24 (2023) 115-40; Daly & Dimler, Corpus librorum emblematum. The Jesuit Series I: J.43; Campa, Cordier, Emblemata hispanica FB3; Landwehr, Emblem and Fable Books Printed in the Low Countries 64; Palau 30027; Sommervogel-De Backer, Bibliothèque de la Compagnie de Jésus I: 1525,7; STCV 6667361.
Price: $2,500.00