Scappi, Bartolomeo.

4to (203 x 145mm.),woodcut printer's device on title-page and above colophon, engraved portrait of the author, woodcut initials, 14 leaves of double-sided engraved plates (pasted back-to-back; they were printed to appear facing each other), a few plates with replacement engravings pasted over the originals, strictly contemporary Roman red morocco gilt with papal arms of Pius V, covers with blind and gilt fillet borders with corner fleurons, central arms gilt within a square cartouche, spine gilt in compartments with central fleurons, gilt edges gauffered and coloured to a floral pattern, with near-contemporary manuscript title running horizontally along foredge, quire E slightly browned, plate of the Conclave slightly shaved at foot, lacking green silk ties, extremities slightly rubbed, one spine compartment damaged, joints weak

Pope Pius V (Michele Ghislieri, pope from 1566 to 1572), arms on binding; Earl of Guilford, armorial bookplate, most likely Frederick North, fifth earl (1766-1827), sales of his library, Evans, London, December 1828-17 December 1835; Lord Monson, Burton Library, armorial bookplate

Censimento 16 CNCE 47765; Mortimer, Harvard Italian 467; Wellcome 5811

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."

Bound in a splendid Roman binding for Scappi's master, Pope Pius V. Hobson, in his 1953 catalogue of J.R. Abbey's French and Italian bindings, comments that the painting of edges is uncommon in this period but it is recorded on other bindings for Pius V (see Hobson, number 70). The papal binders at this time were Niccolò Franzese, who died in 1570-1571, and his successor Francesco Soresino, though Hobson also assigns bindings for Pius V to the Farnese bindery. There is not sufficient decoration here to assign the binding to a particular bindery with any confidence.

Pius V was renowned for his dislike of luxury; this binding, though still a deluxe production, is restrained in its cover decoration, unlike many other papal bindings of the time. This restraint can be seen on another Roman binding for Pius V, with similar blind and gilt fillet borders with corner fleurons and central (but different) arms (Legature papali, 119, "sobria decorazione").

This is the second edition of Scappi's comprehensive collection of recipes; the first edition also appeared in 1570, but was printed without a colophon. The plates depict kitchens in full use and various pieces of kitchen equipment, from knives to cooking pots, together with a double-page plate of a feast during the Conclave that ran from the end of November 1549 to February 1550 and finally elected Julius III.