Ortelius, Abraham

ORTELIUS, ABRAHAM (1527-1598). Deorum dearumque capita ex vetustis numismatibus in gratiam antiquitatis studiosorum effigiata et edita. Antwerp: (Philippe Galle), 1573, engraved title-page, 54 engraved plates -- SWEERTS, FRANÇOIS (1567-1629). XII Caesarum Romanorum imagines e numismatibus expressae, et historica narratione illustratae. Antwerp: Officina Plantiniana, 1612 (colophon: Robert Bruneau, 1603), 1612, engraved title-page with letterpress imprint, engraved illustrations, with final blank leaf -- 2 works in one volume, 4to (173 x 128mm.), eighteenth-century red morocco gilt made for the Earl of Pembroke, spine gilt in compartments, gilt edges (small hole in head of first title-page, extremities slightly rubbed)

Presentation copy from Ortelius to Joannes Castelius, inscription on first title-page; erased inscription from head of first title-page; Thomas Herbert, 8th earl of Pembroke (1656-1733), his binding, sale, Sotheby's, 15 March 1920, lot 347, to Ellis for £9-10; George Smith (of Ellis & Co., New Bond Street), sale, Sotheby's, 22 July 1959, lot 810, £28 to Dr Weil; P.A. Milne-Henderson, bookplate

1st work: Belgica Typographica 2285; Berlin Catalogue 229; Dekesel O5

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Small hole in head of first title-page, extremities slightly rubbed.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the condition report is a statement of opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's. For that reason, Sotheby's condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot.

PRESENTATION COPY FROM ORTELIUS TO CASTELIUS. Joannes Castelius (or Jan van de Casteels, c. 1521-1581 or 1584) was a humanist scholar from Bruges. He was also connected with the Plantin printshop, where some works of his were published in the 1570s.

Ortelius is known to have owned a collection of around 2,000 antique coins, which provided the images of heads of gods and goddesses for this work.

The books in the earl of Pembroke's library at Wilton House were all bound in this typical fashion; on the title-page are the earl's pencil notes to the binder stating the covering material ("Turkey") and the wording for the lettering-piece. This copy has a printed paper shelf-label at the foot of the spine with the location Gb 7.

The eighth earl of Pembroke had a significant collection of coins; for the catalogue, see lots 47 and 48.

The second work is a reissue with a new title-page of the sheets from the 1603 edition (for another copy bound on its own, see lot 95).