De arte gymnastica libri sex […].

4to: [12]-308 [= 312]-[25-1 bl.] pp. (tear in title repaired).

Contemp. German blind-stamped pigskin, covers fully coloured red and green, spine with raised bands and inked title. Good copy.

2nd enl. ed. of a classic work on the gymnastics and games of ancient Greece and Rome (gymnasia, baths, dancing, wrestling, boxing, weight-lifting, discus-casting and training schedules). First edition to be fully illustrated with 24 woodcuts (all but one full-page) after Pirro Ligorio. The first edition of 1569 was only illustrated with a fold. plan of a gymnasium. Woodcut mark on title.
Ref. EDIT16 46968. - Adams M-1320. - Durling 759. - Mortimer 302.
Bound after: Vitruvius - De architectura libri decem […]. [Geneva], J. de Tournes, 1586. [16]-460-35-[1 bl.] pp. + folding pl. (toned). Second ed. (1st 1552) of Vitruvius’ famous work on architecture, with Philander’s annotations. Title within elaborate woodcut border. Circular woodcut portrait (facing p. 1) and mark at the end. Some 85 woodcuts in the text, among which a cut of the Roman circus, the amphitheatre, lifting machines, the various orders. The illustrations are attributed by Cartier to Bernard Salomon (Le Petit Bernard). Ref. SvGültlingen (De Tournes) 706 = Cartier 664. - Adams V-90. - Fowler 414. - GLN-3205 (with Coloniae Allobrogum, i.e. Geneva, printed on title).
Rare contemporary well-preserved German coloured binding.
Prov. Front cover with stamped initials "T A S A L M H" and date "1599". - A single old marg. annotation. - Old names on front flyleaf and title, i.a. "Frédéric Verachter" (1797-1870), Antwerp archivist and collector.