Vitruvius, Zehen Buecher von der Architectur, Basel, 1575, near-contemporary stained vellum, Praun copy

Vitruvius Pollio, Marcus. Vitruvius, Des aller namhafftigisten unnd Hocherfarnesten, Roemischen Architecti, unnd Kunstreichen Werck oder Bawmeysters, Marci Vitruvij Pollionis, Zehen Buecher von der Architectur und kuenstlichem Bawen. Ein Schlüssel und einleytung aller Mathematischen unnd Mechanischen Künst, Scharpffsinniger fleissiger nachtrachtung oder Speculation künstlicher Werck… Alles mit schoenen künstlichen Figuren unnd Antiquiteten, und sonderlichen Commentarien… gezieret und erkleret… Erstmals verteütscht, unnd in Truck verordnet, Durch, D. Gualtherum H. Rivium Medic. & Mathem. Basel: Sebastian Henricpetri, 1575

This copy of Rivius' German translation of Vitruvius (first published in 1548, lot 649), was originally owned by Baron Paul von Praun, one of the greatest art collectors of his day, who owned 250 significant paintings (including Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, Dürer, and Titian), as well as forty terracotta models by Michelangelo. The present volume appears in Christoph Theophile de Murr's 1797 inventory of the collection (where it is listed as "Vitruvius verteutschet durch D. Gaultherum H. Rivium, Med. et Mathem. Basel, 1575"). This edition is illustrated with a total of 191 woodcut blocks, the majority of which are reprinted from the first edition.

Folio (328 x 210 mm). Gothic type, 50 lines plus headline. collation: aa-cc⁶ a-z⁶ A-Ll⁶: 360 leaves. Title-page printed in red and black with first five words printed from a woodcut, 194 woodcut illustrations. (N5 with 3-inch closed tear at lower margin, marginal worming from Ii6 to end of textblock (not affecting text), some spotting and browning).

binding: Near-contemporary vellum (328 x 210 mm), reusing a vellum manuscript leaf (some red and black text just showing), stained black, covers with blind fillets and a central gilt stamp on upper cover with the monogram "PVP", foredge flaps, traces of 2 pairs of leather ties, flat spine with old paper label at head, 4 cords and one at head and tail piercing spine to be laced in, edges lightly sprinkled brown. (Somewhat rubbed, slight worming within binding.)

provenance: Baron Paul von Praun (1548-1616, merchant of Nuremberg who lived in Bologna), PVP monogram on upper cover, and plausibly with the ink inventory number ".14." of his library on top edge — bequeathed to his heirs as part of the "Praunsche Kabinett" in Nuremberg (Description du Cabinet du Monsieur Paul de Praun a Nuremberg, 1797, p. 489) — Jean Frédéric Frauenholz & Cie, Nuremberg, sale of the Paul de Praun collection, February 1802, lot 1573 — Reiss & Sohn, Königstein im Taunus, Auktion 112, 24-26 April 2007, lot 410. acquisition: Purchased in 2008 from Maggs Bros., London. references: BAL RIBA 3516; VD16 V 1766