Choul’s Discourses on the Roman Military and Society
Exquisitely Illustrated with Fine Engravings
1556 - Lyon
Choul, S. Guglielmo. DISCORSO SOPRA LA CASTRAMENTATIONE, ET DISCIPLINA MILITARE DE ROMANI,... Con i Bagni, & Effercitii anichi de Greci, & Romani. Et Tradotto in Lingua Toscana per M. Gabriel Symeoni (Lione (Lyon): Appresso Guglielmo Rovillio, 1556) Two parts in one folio volume. Only the second Italian language edition, printed only one year after the true first edition. The CASTRAMENTATIONE with 37 impressive full page woodcuts, engraved decorated titlepage, 3 magnificent 9 line woodcut initials featuring birds, headpieces and other decorations throughout and with a separate half-title, The section on the baths with 3 full page woodcuts, 3 smaller woodcuts, initials, headpieces and other decorations throughout. Folio, bound in antique Italian vellum expertly refreshed along the edges and spine head. (8), 103, (2); 38, (10 table of contents). A very handsome copy, very well preserved, extremely clean and fresh and a very large copy with grand margins and bound in a proper period binding. The first nine leaves with a very small and unobtrusive expert refurbishment to the outside lower corner not affecting the text or illustrations, a very few other minor expert repairs to small marginal paper flaws, the final leaf with a small ink spot.
RARE AND WITH FINE AND VERY BEAUTIFUL ENGRAVINGS of soldiers on foot and on horseback. Engraved renderings of the illustrations of uniforms, standard bearers, construction of the military encampments, military and non-military illustrations including those of the baths and including a number that are general in scope. A work of remarkable interest for its depictions of Roman soldiers and citizens and the use and customs of the public baths. Lacking in STC, French. Baudrier IX, 229. Olschki, Choix WAYS, 10088. Cicognara the 3667 (ediz.): “… beautiful types and tables”. |
