Lot 70: C. Iulius Caesar sive historiae imperatorum caesarumque romanorum ex antiquis numismatibus restitutae liber primus. Accessit C. Iulii Caesaris vita et res gestae [...].

4to: [40]-231-[49] pp. (minor spotting, sm. wormhole and wormtrack in blank margin, occ. foxing and plates sl. browned). - Monumental production from the first "Private Press" ever opened in the Low Countries. This workshop, funded by Marcus Laurinus (1530-1579), Lord of Watervliet, was installed in the home of Goltzius (1526-1583) and focused on producing volumes on Greek and Roman history. - First edition of the major work on Roman imperial coins by Goltzius. Ill. with splendid engr. reproductions of antique coins and medals: majestic engr. title, said to be after Lambert Lombard (1505/6-1566), 54 full-page engravings of antique coins, woodcut initials and an elegant engr. printer's device on last leaf. The ill. of coins are drawn after the collections that Goltzius studied during his travels throughout Europe between 1558 and 1560. The title date has been changed by hand from MCXLII to MCXLIII by adding a Roman numeral I, as on many copies. Dekesel identifies four issues for this book. Our copy belongs to the third with an extra leaf c5 added to quire c and printed on ordinary paper. - Bound with, same author, printer, format and condition (without the wormhole and wormtrack): Caesar Augustus sive historiae imperatorum caesarumque romanorum ex antiquis numismatibus restitutae liber secundus. Accessit C. Iulii Caesaris vita et res gestae [...], 1574. [24]-248-[40] pp.; 83 pl. First edition of the sequel of the "C. Iulius Caesar" described above with a similar splendid illustration. - Ref. BB III:246-247 G385 & G387. - Adams G-829 & G-832. - Dekesel G-51 & G-55. - Pettegree NB 13502 & 13507. - USTC 401143 & 401623.

1563

Contemp. gilt-stamped calf, covers with central ornament ruled with 2 frames of triple fillets with corner pieces, orn. flat spine, a.e.g. (covers scratched, edges sl. rubbed, tiny tears in flyleaves, rebacked, corners skilfully repaired).