Patrizi, Francesco, Bishop of Gaetano.

Folio (341 x 210mm.), title in red and black, woodcut printer's device on title, woodcut initials, contemporary dark brown calf with gilt arabesque tooling, the covers and 5 spine compartments (of 7) laid down on a nineteenth-century binding, original gilt edges, in buckram folding box, spotting on title, small tears (one repaired) in margins of 4 leaves, wormhole in lower margin of some leaves, slight dampstaining in gutter, panels rubbed and slightly worn with some loss of gilding, extremities rubbed

Jean Grolier, ex libris and inscription; Quaritch, Bindings (1897), 428 and Cat. 249 (1906), 428; J.H. Fitzhenry, sold to Tregaskis, Christie's, 1 December 1913, lot 105; James Tregaskis, bookseller, Cat. 775 (1915), 248; P.M. Pittar, sale in our rooms, 4 November 1918, lot 295; J.P.R. Lyell, book label; J. & J. Leighton, booksellers, Cat. 2 (1921), 774; Norman H. Hansen, sale Copenhagen, 29 May 1924, lot 74; Carl Heise, his library sold by Ejnar Munksgaard, Cat. 30 (1938), No. 216

Adams P451; G. Austin, The Library of Jean Grolier: A Preliminary Catalogue (1971), no. 375; J. Guignard, "Premier reliures Parisiennes à décor doré", in Humanisme actif, Mélanges ... Julien Cain (Paris, 1968), II, 229-249, this binding reproduced as plate 16; compare H. M. Nixon, Bookbindings from the Library of Jean Grolier (British Museum, 1965), nos. 10 (British Library) and 11 (Eton College).

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

An early Paris gold-tooled binding for Jean Grolier, very rare. With Grolier's ownership inscription twice: at the end of the text (Joannis Grolierij Lugdunensis et Amicorum.), and on the original pastedown (the same, plus his motto, Portio [mea] domine sit in terra viventivm). By the analysis of Jacques Guignard, the first gold-tooled bindings made for Grolier in France were executed in the early 1520s by Pierre Roffet, partly using tools acquired from the stock of the late Simon Vostre, whose shop had inaugurated gilt-tooling in Paris. The layouts of the Roffet group show the influence of the gilt bindings Grolier had commissioned earlier in Milan, arguing for Grolier's direct agency in their design. Only two Grolier bindings of this early French group are represented in Great Britain.