![TRITHEMIUS, Johannes (1462-1516). Compendium sive breviarium primi voluminis annalium sive historiarum, de origine regum et gentis Francorum. Paris: Christian Wechel, 1539. [Bound with:] Jacobus FONTANUS (fl. 1st half of the 16th century). De bello Rhodio libri tres. Paris: Christian Wechel, 1540.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2004/CKS/2004_CKS_06996_0114_000(082052).jpg?w=1)
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TRITHEMIUS, Johannes (1462-1516). Compendium sive breviarium primi voluminis annalium sive historiarum, de origine regum et gentis Francorum. Paris: Christian Wechel, 1539. [Bound with:] Jacobus FONTANUS (fl. 1st half of the 16th century). De bello Rhodio libri tres. Paris: Christian Wechel, 1540.
2° (289 x 196mm). Both texts in roman with shoulder notes in italic. Wechel's Pegasus device on both titles, device repeated on final leaf of the second work, the latter with woodcut diagram on A3r, woodcut historiated and floral initials throughout. (Title to the first work and K6v of second work both slightly soiled.)
BINDING: Parisian gold-tooled dark brown calf, c. 1550-1560, for Thomas Mahieu, complex interlacing architectonic pattern of gouges and fillets, front cover with central oval reserve lettered with both titles: ANNALIUM DE ORIGINE REGUM ET GENTIS FRANCOR COMPENDIUM/ DE. INSULA. RHODO./ET. BELLO/RHODIO., and with ex libris: TO. MAIOLI ET AMICO- RUM in the ornament below, central oval reserve on back cover with motto: INGRATIS SERVIRE NEPHAS, double fillet round spine (joints skilfully restored, new endpapers); modern cloth box. H.W. Davies Catalogue of Early French Books in the Library of C. Fairfax Murray, London, 1910, no. 550, pl. 654; G.D. Hobson, Maioli, Canevari and others, p. 105 no.LXXVIII; Reflets de la bibliophilie en Belgique III, Brussels, 1976, no. 15, pl. 3; Cinq siècles d'ornements, no. 23; Hobson/Culot2 45.
PROVENANCE: Thomas Mahieu (ex libris on binding) -- Le Gentil (signature on title) -- Jean Jacques de Bure l'aîné (collation note on front pastedown, signed and dated 2 July, 1829) -- Charles Fairfax Murray (two shelf numbers on front pastedown) -- Mme Edouard Rahir -- [Lardanchet cat. 47, Lyons, 1953, no. 2342; cat. 50, 1956, no. 3871; cat. 54, 1961, no. 345, ill.) -- Michel de Bry (ex libris, sale Paris, 5-6 December 1966, lot 208, pl. LIV) -- [Librairie Fl. Tulkens, Brussels (label)].
A GRAND ARCHITECTONIC BINDING FOR THOMAS MAHIEU (fl. 1540-1588). The ornamentation formed of fillets and gouges covers the entire surface of the covers, and is achieved without the use of any tools, the bewildering combination of interlace patterns creating a striking three-dimensional effect. Culot notes that the sense of perspective is more easily obtained on volumes of folio or quarto format, commissioned by both Jean Grolier and Thomas Mahieu from Parisian binders during the period 1550-60. The doubling of many of the lines anticipates the fanfare style, making Mahieu an important owner in the early development of this binding fashion. 'Ingratis servire nephas' ('it is odious to serve the ungrateful') was the earlier of his two mottoes. The suggestion that it was provided by his dismissal from the service of Catherine de' Medicis in 1560 is mistaken since it was also also used on bindings well before this date (see Foot, Henry Davis Gift, no. 14). Adams T-969 and F-720.
2° (289 x 196mm). Both texts in roman with shoulder notes in italic. Wechel's Pegasus device on both titles, device repeated on final leaf of the second work, the latter with woodcut diagram on A3r, woodcut historiated and floral initials throughout. (Title to the first work and K6v of second work both slightly soiled.)
BINDING: Parisian gold-tooled dark brown calf, c. 1550-1560, for Thomas Mahieu, complex interlacing architectonic pattern of gouges and fillets, front cover with central oval reserve lettered with both titles: ANNALIUM DE ORIGINE REGUM ET GENTIS FRANCOR COMPENDIUM/ DE. INSULA. RHODO./ET. BELLO/RHODIO., and with ex libris: TO. MAIOLI ET AMICO- RUM in the ornament below, central oval reserve on back cover with motto: INGRATIS SERVIRE NEPHAS, double fillet round spine (joints skilfully restored, new endpapers); modern cloth box. H.W. Davies Catalogue of Early French Books in the Library of C. Fairfax Murray, London, 1910, no. 550, pl. 654; G.D. Hobson, Maioli, Canevari and others, p. 105 no.LXXVIII; Reflets de la bibliophilie en Belgique III, Brussels, 1976, no. 15, pl. 3; Cinq siècles d'ornements, no. 23; Hobson/Culot
PROVENANCE: Thomas Mahieu (ex libris on binding) -- Le Gentil (signature on title) -- Jean Jacques de Bure l'aîné (collation note on front pastedown, signed and dated 2 July, 1829) -- Charles Fairfax Murray (two shelf numbers on front pastedown) -- Mme Edouard Rahir -- [Lardanchet cat. 47, Lyons, 1953, no. 2342; cat. 50, 1956, no. 3871; cat. 54, 1961, no. 345, ill.) -- Michel de Bry (ex libris, sale Paris, 5-6 December 1966, lot 208, pl. LIV) -- [Librairie Fl. Tulkens, Brussels (label)].
A GRAND ARCHITECTONIC BINDING FOR THOMAS MAHIEU (fl. 1540-1588). The ornamentation formed of fillets and gouges covers the entire surface of the covers, and is achieved without the use of any tools, the bewildering combination of interlace patterns creating a striking three-dimensional effect. Culot notes that the sense of perspective is more easily obtained on volumes of folio or quarto format, commissioned by both Jean Grolier and Thomas Mahieu from Parisian binders during the period 1550-60. The doubling of many of the lines anticipates the fanfare style, making Mahieu an important owner in the early development of this binding fashion. 'Ingratis servire nephas' ('it is odious to serve the ungrateful') was the earlier of his two mottoes. The suggestion that it was provided by his dismissal from the service of Catherine de' Medicis in 1560 is mistaken since it was also also used on bindings well before this date (see Foot, Henry Davis Gift, no. 14). Adams T-969 and F-720.
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