



Jacobus Publicius
First edition and first issue of this illustrated epitome of the rhetorical arts, representing the first memory treatise to appear in print, the first book containing a printed visual alphabet and the first work to show a printed illustration of a chess board: this woodcut identifies this copy as the extremely rare first issue of the edition, being printed on l. d8r – blank in the second issue, as in most other surviving copies.
Further images
4to, (187 x 133 mm). 67 of 68 ll., lacking the first blank leaf. Brown 19th century morocco binding by Charlene Matthews, boards decorated with a gilt frame, spine with five raised- bands with title printed in gold and compartments decorated with gilt tools; gilt dentelles, blue, red and yellow silk book-mark, gilt edges. Excellent copy, reglé, foxing at the exterior blank margin of some leaves, some light foxing, overall very good.
Provenance: From the library of Regia Monacensis (ink stamp on ll. A2r and d7v); manuscript owner’s inscription on recto of the second flyleaf attesting the purchase at the Hamilton Cole Library auction (New York, 8 April 1890); engraved bookplate of Walter Goldwater’s; private collection of David Nathan Maister, England.
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