Camerarius, Symbolorum & emblematum ex re herbaria, Nuremberg, 1590, contemporary calf

Camerarius, Joachim. Symbolorum & emblematum ex re herbaria desumtorum centuria una collecta a Ioachimo Camerario medico Norimberg. In quibus rariores Stirpium proprietates historiae ac Sententiae memorabiles non paucae breviter exponuntur. (Nuremberg: Johann Hofmann & Hubrecht Caimox), 1590 [preface dated 1593]

First edition. Camerarius (1534-1598) produced emblems with a motto, an illustration, a verse epigram and a longer prose description. The fine engravings by Sibmacher were also used for the design of medals, which were an integral part of the Altdorf Academy where Camerarius taught; each year students were rewarded with emblematic medals and tasked to produce a speech based on the image on the medal.

This is considered to be the first botanical emblem book, and the engravings by Sibmacher were inspired by Conrad Gesner's botanical works (Camerarius had purchased Gesner's library). While subjects from nature were present from Alciati onwards, Camerarius expanded the number in both this botanical work and his later animal emblems (see lot 472).

The lion stamp on the binding was used by Hans Schinnagl (of Munich, active from 1518) and his son Kaspar (EBDB w002513), though by this date the stamp had presumably been passed on to another bindery.

4to (198 x 135 mm). Roman and italic type, 34 lines plus headline. collation: A⁶ B-Z⁴ a-f⁴ g⁶: 124 leaves (final leaf blank). Engraved title-page and engraved emblems, all by Hans Sibmacher, woodcut initials.

binding: Contemporary Bavarian (oxidised) silver-tooled calf over wooden boards (207 x 147 mm), central lion stamp with outer leafy border and corner arabesque stamps, spine with small flower stamp in compartments, two clasps, traces of blue edges, vellum title label with manuscript lettering pasted to the head of the inside lower board. (Upper joint cracked, spine bands rubbed, ends of spine defective, lacking both straps.)

provenance: Benedictine abbey of Andechs (Bavaria), inscriptions on title-page, one dated 1594 — old shelfmark AA.XVIII.h (from Andechs?). acquisition: Purchased in 1991 from Marlborough Rare Books, London. references: Landwehr, Germanic Emblem Books 162; Nissen BBI 312; VD16 C 568