Silius Italicus, De bello Punico libri septemdecim, Lyon, 1547, contemporary painted calf binding

16mo (120 x 68 mm). Italic type, 29 lines plus headline. collation: a-z⁸ A-D⁸: 216 leaves (D8 blank). Woodcut printer's device on title-page, woodcut initials, ruled in red, few leaves partially uncut at head, early manuscript prayer in German in an unidentified hand on final recto. (Dampstaining and tear at foot to front free endpaper, small ink stains to a6, tear without loss to y3.)

binding: Contemporary French painted calf binding (128 x 82 mm), covers with interlacing tooled in gold and painted green, white, pink and black, with small flower, star and leafy tools, spine compartments gilt-tooled alternately with a fleur-de-lys and a crowned dolphin, board edges gilt with small flower tool and fillet, edges gilt and gauffered. In cloth box. (Paint rubbed, joints cracked, corners defective.)

provenance: Walter Petschek (1899-1998), sale, Christie's, New York, 9 June 1999, lot 62. acquisition: Purchased at the preceding sale. references: USTC 149879; von Gültlingen V: Gryphe 1000