Title: Omnia Andreae Alciati Emblemata Cum Commentaris, 1577. Profusely Annotated
Author: Andrea Alciati
Publisher: Antuerpiae, Ex officina Christophori Plantini, architypographi Regij
Condition: Good
A late 16th century Plantin Press edition of Alciati’s Emblemata, being the first and most widely disseminated emblem book, based upon the compilation of manuscripts and Latin Poems that Alciati had dedicated to his to his friend Conrad Peutinger, and circulated to his acquaintances. The emblem book was first printed in 1531, under the title Viri Clarissimi D. Andreae Alciati Iurisconsultiss. Mediol. Ad D. Chonradum Peutingerum Augustanum, Iurisconsultum Emblematum Liber. It was soon followed by a 1534 edition authorized by Alciati, under the title of Andrea Alciati's Little Book of Emblems. The word itself, "emblemata" is a plural of the Greek word "emblema", meaning a piece of inlay or mosaic, or an ornament.
Alciati’s Emblemata grew to include over 200 individual emblems and has since then appeared in hundreds of editions, and birthing thousands of imitations and successors in all the languages of Europe. Whether they were religious, romantic, or of a third sort in nature, emblem books became an integral part of European culture for the next two centuries. There are nearly 200 emblems and illustrations throughout.
This copy has been enhanced with handwritten marginalia, some spanning entire paragraphs of notes in a contemporary or near-contemporary hand.
Pages 357-358, 493-494 and 721-722 are lacking.
One vellum bound volume in 12mo, 726 of 732+(1) pages
This volume is in good shape, with minor wear and old staining to the binding. The emblem to page 196 has been cut out and supplemented in photocopy, the text to the verso being similarly replaced. The emblems to pages have also been cut out from pages 293, 301, 359, and 616, without any supplements. There is a bit of sharp trimming to the top of the text halfway through. There is minor foxing throughout, and a bit of marginal worming, not affecting text.