Editore: Jan Moretus; Plantin Press, 1594
Da: ROBIN RARE BOOKS at the Midtown Scholar, Harrisburg, PA, U.S.A.
Prima edizione
Hardcover. Condizione: Fair. 1st Edition. Annales Ecclesiastici, Auctore Cæsare Baronio Sorano Congregationis Oratorii Presbytero. Tomus Quartus. Antverpiae: Ex officina Plantiniana, 1594. 630 p. Full lipped-vellum binding measures 13.75 x 8.5 , 4to. In fair condition. Boards normally scuffed at edges and worn/bumped at corners. Head and tail of spines cuffed; manuscript title at head of spine overall illegible. General staining and toning to vellum. Rear board repaired with fresh vellum at fore-edge. Edges of text-block marbled (dulled). Title page exhibits old-hand ownership signature, which has now been crossed out (ink has bled to adjacent leaf). Normal toning and age-staining through text-block; water or tea dampness staining at top edge of leaf a2 (page directly proceeding title). Pages 49 - 143, approximately, exhibit worming on lines 9, 10 & 11 (from bottom); some loss of a few letters, but text remains legible. Binding remains intact. Please see photos and ask questions, if any, before purchasing. The Plantin Press at Antwerp was one of the focal centers of the fine printed book in the 16th century. Christophe Plantin (c. 1520 1589) of Touraine was trained as a bookbinder. He fled from Paris where at least one printer had recently been burned at the stake for heresy, and went to Antwerp. There he bound books, became a citizen, and by 1555 began to print books, at first for distribution by other publishers. The city was already an established center of printing woodcuts, engravings and books. Plantin took on an assistant, Jan Moretus (Moerentorf) (1543-1610), who read Latin and Greek and could write correspondence in several modern languages. He became Plantin's business manager, son-in-law and eventually his successor in the Plantin printing press. For over two hundred years the Plantin press had a monopoly, granted by the papacy, for the printing of liturgical formularies, including in Spain. In 1562, suspected of heresy, Plantin fled to France for two years. At an auction of his press, friends bought up his equipment on his behalf. VOLUME FOUR ONLY - INCOMPLETE AS A SET! 1st Plantin Press Edition. RAREE1594FQRP - 12/25 - HK2952.