Binding by SEVERIN ROETTER of Wittenberg -- [Liber Amicorum] Flores Hesperidum, Pulcherrimae Pleorumque Graeciae Comicorum Sententia, cum duplici eorum versione Latina ... Stamm-oder Gesellenbuch, mit vil Schoenen Spruechen, auch allerley offnen und Buergerlichen Schildten und Helmen, [colophon: Frankfurt, Georg Raben], 1574, 8vo, with only 175 (of 182) woodcuts of coats-of-arms with their heraldic supports and framings (several crudely coloured or inked in), interleaved copy used as a Liber Amicorum with 16 entries on the blank leaves (title frayed, some dampstains), contemporary calf by the Wittenberg binder, Severin Roetter, signed with his initials S.R. on the back, sides gilt-tooled with shield and rose corner pieces linked by two line rule forming a central panel, each panel with an allegorical figure (Justice and Fortune) hand-painted on paper over a blind-stamped design, spine in five compartments with raised bands (restored at base of spine and corners, generally rather rubbed, particularly on the panels, lacking ties); sold as a binding not subject to return.

Details

Binding by SEVERIN ROETTER of Wittenberg -- [Liber Amicorum] Flores Hesperidum, Pulcherrimae Pleorumque Graeciae Comicorum Sententia, cum duplici eorum versione Latina ... Stamm-oder Gesellenbuch, mit vil Schoenen Spruechen, auch allerley offnen und Buergerlichen Schildten und Helmen, [colophon: Frankfurt, Georg Raben], 1574, 8vo, with only 175 (of 182) woodcuts of coats-of-arms with their heraldic supports and framings (several crudely coloured or inked in), interleaved copy used as a Liber Amicorum with 16 entries on the blank leaves (title frayed, some dampstains), contemporary calf by the Wittenberg binder, Severin Roetter, signed with his initials S.R. on the back, sides gilt-tooled with shield and rose corner pieces linked by two line rule forming a central panel, each panel with an allegorical figure (Justice and Fortune) hand-painted on paper over a blind-stamped design, spine in five compartments with raised bands (restored at base of spine and corners, generally rather rubbed, particularly on the panels, lacking ties); sold as a binding not subject to return.

Lot Essay

The text is based on one of the anthologies compiled by Henri Estienne and is divided according to topics: friendship, hope, art, love, justice, wealth, truth, time, etc. First is printed a Greek proverb, then Henri Estienne's Latin translation, followed by another Latin version by Christian Egenolph, a Poeta Laureatus from Frankfurt who was also the editor of this volume. As the binding reflects, the book is important as a sample book for heraldic design, the woodcuts were intended to encourage people to choose their own arms, and must also have been used by engravers, goldsmiths and others.

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