Lot 40: CRISPIJN DE PASSE

Academia sive Speculum vitae scholasticae. Utrecht: Crispijn de Passe and Arnhem: Jan Janszoon, 1612. Oblong 4to. (18.1 x 26cm), engraved title and 16 plates by and after De Passe and his pupils (some light creasing), 18th century French marbled calf, gilt spine with raised bands, morocco lettering-piece and repeated floral tool (joints rubbed and a little cracked, spine slightly chipped at head and foot). Provenance: Domenique-Martin Méon (according to bookseller's ms note; Méon's fine library was sold on 15 November 1803 in 4,166 lots) -- Baron Pichon (sold in part I of his sale, Georges Vicaire, Paris, 3-14 May 1897, lot 199, "très belle exemplaire d'un livre très recherché") -- Edouard Rahir (6 part sale, Paris, 1930-38) -- item no. 3033 at £48 in an Ellis catalogue, subsequently purchased from Davis and Orioli, London, 26 May 1937, for £27.

AN EXTREMELY RARE BOOK OF ENGRAVINGS BY THE GREAT DUTCH MASTER. A "mirror of student life" in the early 17th century, it opens with eight prints depicting home leaving, lectures, the rite of induction into a students' society, the library, anatomy theatre, botanical garden, and the bestowal of a doctorate. These are balanced by eight other scenes of students at leisure, showing a visit to an inn and a nocturnal serenade beneath a young girl's window, as well as the more acceptable activities of dancing, music, painting, fencing and sport. In addition to the Latin verses engraved on the plates, each is preceded on the previous page by a letterpress commentary in Latin. Plate 15 is the Game of real tennis ("Parvae pilae exercitium", literally "Exercise with the small ball") and plate 16 is the Game of balloon ("Exercitium follis", literally "Exercise with the follis", a large leather ball filled with air). The verses to plate 15 translate: "As the racquets send the small balls flying back and forth,/The young keep their bodies and minds constantly engaged./For the ball restores the strength in the weakened body,/But rests the mind overwhelmed by ceasless study", a theme further explored in the commentary. Brunet IV, 414, citing the sale of the Méon copy for 4fr. 50c; Veldman Profit and Pleasure pp. 149-167 and Veldman Crispijn de Passe p. 193.

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.