Rerum sacrarum liber cum argumentis Iacobi Pacti Siculi Mamertini.

Antwerp: Christophe Plantin, 1577. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good+. 4to (240 x 175mm). Pagination: [2], 3-194pp., [2, colophon leaf]. Signatures: A-Z(4); a(6). Engraved architectural frame on title signed “Bernardinus Passarus,” with coat of arms of Pope Gregory XIII, two cardinals Alessandro Farnese (escutcheon of six fleur-de-lis) and Antonio Perenotto (escutcheon of double-headed eagle and seven bends), and classicizing boughs of fruit. All 55 copperplate engravings, 54 in cartouche illustrated by Bernandino Passeri (c.1577-1585) and engraved by Hieronymus (Jerome) Wierix (c.1553-1619), with the exception of the Raising of Lazarus on p. 88, which is signed “PB” [i.e. Pieter van der Borcht] as designer and “IHW” [i.e. Jan Wierix], which belonged to the Plantin stock. Edited by Jacobus Pactus. Text in roman and italic. Contemporary limp vellum, lacking ties, manuscript title to spine ‘GAMBARAE CARININA SACRA’; (title and edges lightly browned, hinges starting, ink stains on p. 71, but otherwise a good copy). Old library stamp of the Biblitoeca de Oscar e Carbone. Modern armorial bookplate of Bibliotheque I.G. Schorsch on the front pastedown.

Scarce first edition of Lorenzo Gambara’s devotional treatise, the Rerum sacrarum liber, published by Plantin in Antwerp in 1577. Plentiful in sacred iconography, Gambara’s book was known for its beautiful art history images depicting classic Christological scenes, visions, saints, and parables all after the drawings of Bernadino Passeri. Lorenzo Gambara, born in Brescia, studied arts and letters at the University of Padua. While he was still young, he moved to Rome where he was linked to the papal court and was in service to Cardinal Alessandro Farnese and later Pope Gregory XIII. Virtually Gambara’s entire life had been encompassed by the culture of the papal court, a place where he also made his name as a poet. One of Gambara’s major driving beliefs was that the popular myths in ancient poetry had pagan roots. Wanting to write something to counteract the celebration of depraved literature in his time, Gambara wrote this treatise to discourage Christian poets from using pagan symbols in their work. He dedicated this work to some of the greatest themes in Christian liturgy, such as the Annunciation, Epiphany, Pentecost, and Christmas. Adams G-186; Brunet II, 1474; Graesse III, 22.