Cartari, Le imagini de i dei de gli antichi, Venice, 1571, contemporary limp vellum gilt, Kissner copy

Cartari, Vincenzo. Le imagini de i dei de gli antichi, nelle quali si contengono gl'idoli, riti, ceremonie, & altre cose appartenenti alla religione de gli antichi, raccolte dal sig. Vincenzo Cartari, con la loro espositione, & con bellissime & accommodate figure nuovamente stampate. Venice: Giordano Ziletti & Company, 1571

First illustrated edition of Cartari's description of the attributes of the ancient gods, with fine engravings by Bolognino Zaltieri. Copies were also issued with the name and device of Vincenzo Valgrisi.

Leaf Rr3 is often lacking as the engraving of herms was considered lewd, but it is here present.

4to (208 x 150 mm). Italic type, 28 lines plus headline. collation: a-c⁴ d⁶ A-4A⁴: 298 leaves (last leaf blank). Woodcut printer's device on title-page, woodcut initials and headpieces, full-page engraved illustrations. (Occasional light damp-staining.)

binding: Contemporary (French?) limp vellum (212 x 155 mm), central oval arabesque gilt stamp, small fleur-de-lys stamps at corners, flat spine with small gilt stamps rubbed away and overwritten with a manuscript title, remains of a paper label at head of spine, stubs from two pairs of pink silk ties, edges gilt and gauffered. (Front pastedown lifting, gilt edges slightly rubbed.)

provenance: B. de A., blue ink stamp on title-page and Hh1 — collation note from Bernard Quaritch dated 1981 at end — Franklin H. Kissner collection of books on Rome, sale, Christie's, London, 3 October 1990, lot 74, £1,500. acquisition: Purchased at the preceding sale. references: Edit16 9756; Mortimer, Harvard Italian 108 (with Valgrisi imprint)