- 135
Caius, Joannes
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 USD
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Description
- Caius, Joannes
- Of Englishe Dogges, the Diversities, the Names, the Natures, and the Properties. A Short Treatise written in Latine … and Newly Drawne into Englishe by Abraham Fleming Student. London: by [J. Charlewood for] Richard Johnes, and are to be solde over against S. Sepulchres Church without Newgate, 1576
- Paper, Ink, Leather
Small 4to (6 7/8 x 5 1/4 in.; 175 x 135 mm). Title within typographic ornamental border, historiated woodcut initials; some very expert restoration to margins of title-page with a tiny bit of pen facsimile to the lower portion of the decorative border, lower fore-edge corners of A2–B1 restored, small natural paper flaw to B3, pinholes to fore-edge margins of G1,2, washed. Red morocco janséniste by Rivière.
Provenance
Bernard Quaritch catalogue no. 369 (1922); sold to — Carl Franz Georg Richard Schwerdt (bookplate; Sotheby’s, 11 July 1939, lot 1610) — Marcel Jeanson (bookplate; Sotheby’s Monaco, 29 February 1987, lot 102). acquisition: Purchased at the foregoing sale through Bernard Quaritch
Literature
STC 4347; ESTC S113247; Schwerdt 1:281–82
Condition
4to (7 5/8 x 5 5/8 in.; 193 x 140 mm). Black letter, woodcut title border (McKerrow & Ferguson 38), woodcut initials, with errata leaf ¶3 and blanks Ss4 and ¶4; trace of dampstain to lower margin of final quire. Contemporary English calf with gilt semé and with fine Persian-style gilt-ground arabesque cornerpieces and oval centerpiece, the plaques heightened with silver paint, smooth spine gilt, board edges gilt, plain endpapers, edges gilt; some repairs to head of spine and other extremities. Brown cloth folding-case with morocco labels.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
The Schwerdt-Jeanson copy of the first English-language edition of the first English book on dogs. Caius’s De canibus Britannicis "was written to Conrad Gesner, the celebrated naturalist, and was intended as a contribution to his 'History of Animals,' but not published in consequence of Gesner’s death" (DNB). Fleming’s translation is much scarcer than the first, Latin, edition of 1570. Indeed, the Pirie copy appears to be the only one to have been in the trade for more than a century. A fine copy, with distinguished provenance, of a truly rare book.