GESNER, Conrad.

Epitome Bibliothecae...nunc denuo recognita & plus quam bis mille authorum accessione (qui omnes asterisco signati sunt) locupletata: per Josiam Simlerum...

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Woodcut printer’s device on title. 6 p.l., 184, [14] leaves (the last a blank). Folio, cont. richly blind-stamped pigskin-backed boards, boards covered with reused vellum leaves of an incunable printed in red & black (first four leaves with some fairly inoffensive marginal dampstaining, some unimportant worming), 3 (of 6) orig. ties. Zurich: C. Froschauer, 1555. First edition, and a lovely copy of Josias Simler’s scarce authorized abridgement, with his own additions, of Gesner’s Bibliotheca, one of the epochal works in the annals of bibliography. Simler (1530-76), one of Gesner’s friends and his first biographer, was professor of theology at Zurich where he also taught mathematics and astronomy. This copy bears the signature “Casp. Melissander 1566. Januarii. Lauingae” on the front paste-down. This was Caspar Melissander Bienemann (1540-91), the evangelical theologian who studied at Jena and Tübingen where he learned Greek. Because of this skill, he accompanied Kaiser Maximilian II on his legation to Greece where Bienemann adopted the name “Melissander.” Upon his return, he served in various academic and political posts. He is best remembered today for his hymns, several of which were used by Bach. Bound after the Gesner is a copy of the first edition of Johann Funck’s Chronologia (Nuremberg: 1545). The final twenty leaves have some dampstaining and the worming is more serious. Fine copies in original state. ❧ Wellisch A 16.3a. Bienemann: A.D.B., II, p. 626. Jöcher, III, cols 399-400.

• USD 10,000.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: HillBibl-1264

• bookseller: Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller, Inc. (USA)