Jean Baptiste COLBERT

Second edition, published the year after the first. Text in Greek and Latin.

Illustrated with the printer's device on the title page, headpieces, initials, and tailpieces.

Superb contemporary red morocco binding, spine with five raised bands bearing Colbert's crowned cipher, centre of both covers stamped with his arms, boards framed three times in gilt, gilt roll-tooling on the board edges, all edges speckled, spine very lightly sunned, discreet rubbing to the corners, board edges and spine-ends on one abrasion to the lower cover and a faint dark mark on one compartment of the spine.

A sumptuous copy bound in morocco stamped with the arms and cipher of...

Second edition of the Gemmarum et Lapidarum Historia by Flemish doctor and naturalist Anselm de Boodt, with commentary by Adrian Toll in first edi­tion. Illustrated with 45 woodcuts in text and two folding plates.
Contemporary marbled calf, spine four raised bands decorated in gilt, red mo­rocco title-label, boards twice framed in gilt, speckled edges. Restorations to the upper joint.
A major work of gemology and min­eralogy from the library a highly es­teemed bibliophile and major French political figure: Jean-Baptiste Colbert, famous for purchasing the “Bleu de France” diamond, one of the world's most beautiful gemstones.
Protégée of Jules Mazarin...

First edition of the publication of Johannes Van Meurs, printed in Greek and Latin. It contains in particular the De administrando imperio which despite a general title at the date of 1617, wears the colophon date of printing of 1611. This text, known thanks to manuscripts, had never been printed before.
Contemporary binding in full vellum red speckled lapel, smooth back with a title pen, all slices flecked with red.
Several red underlines and marginal handwritten annotations of the time.
In line with the great works of princely education, Constantine dedicated this book to his son Roman II. The emperor deals mainly with the diplomatic relations of the Empire with his...