Illustrated Editions Focus for Italian Single Seller Sale

Amsterdam, The Netherlands - The Catawiki books department is very pleased to highlight this Single Seller Sale in our Antiquarian Books auctions. Over 40 books from one leading Italian seller. Ranging in genres from agriculture to alchemy, medicine, war history and beyond, this showcase focuses on illustrated editions in particular.

As the owner of the collection said, “If you really live among books, they become part of your identity and way of life.” This is certainly demonstrated in selection of books he has made for this auction.

For example in this 1606 Edition of Vesalius’ great work. Anotomia del corpo umano. The plates here are copied from his masterpiece, De humani corporis fabrica, with the addition of four new engraved plates by Valverde. One of the new plates is particularly gruesome, with a muscular figure holding his own skin in one hand, and a knife in the other.

Another lovely work is Nova Iconologia by Cesare Ripa printed in 1618. This lovely emblem book (the last in the author’s lifetime and bearing his revisions) is adorned with 306 large woodcuts. It is a particularly fine example of the art of allegorical representation.

Lastly, we would like to highlight this attractive incunabula, Transitus beati Hieronymi. Printed in 1489, it is the epistles and life of St Jerome printed by Iodoco Clichthoveo. This work is complete, presented as Pp. (2); 112 nn; (2) and in a modern parchment binding

With another 40 lots to look through, this collection will have something to suit every classicist’s taste. 

The auction will be online starting Friday 25 November 2022 at 10:00 UTC | closing December 7 2022 at 19:00 UTC and will be visible here.

Marc Harrison, category manager Books, Manuscripts & Cartography at Catawiki: “Our Italian team has worked hard to bring together this collection of early books. Each one has merited its place in the auction and is an excellent example of its type. The owner of “Luxury Books” hopes that you will enjoy looking through his interesting, valuable, and perfectly described books - and so do we!”