VALERIANO, Giovanni Piero (1477-1558) Lot n° 5

- Hieroglyphica seu de sacris aegyptorium... Lyon: Frelon, 1602. A copy bearing the arms and cipher of King Henri IV, from the library of the Jesuit College in La Flèche, whose creation he had commissioned. It was Henri IV who authorized, by letters patent, the return of the Jesuits to France in 1603, and advocated the founding of this fourteenth college, where René Descartes was a pupil from the first graduating class, from 1604 to 1612. Although Henri IV was never a dauphin, the iron stamped in the center of the plates features a crowned dolphin, and the sowing alternates uncrowned dolphins and fleurs-de-lys, probably in order to vary the ornamentation (OHR). This third and most complete Latin edition also contains the Declamatio et Poemata. Brunet, V, col. 1042; Baudrier, IV, p. 136 (1579 edition). In-folio (382 x 289 mm). Text in Latin. Illustrated with an engraved portrait of the author, 267 engraved vignettes, 12 in-text engravings, engraved bandeaux, lettrines and culs-de-lampe. Contemporary binding: blond morocco with the arms of King Henri IV (OHR, 13, pl. 2492, iron no. 5), alternating semis of uncrowned dolphins and fleurs-de-lis, Henri IV's cipher at the corners (OHR, 13, pl. 2492, iron no. 12) and triple gilt fillet framing the boards, spine titled in gold with the same semis, gilt ornamented edges. Provenance: Collège des Jésuites de La Flèche (handwritten bookplate on title "Collegii flexiensis societatis jesu catalogo inscriptus") -- C.N. Radoulesco (bookplate) -- Alexis de Redé (bookplate) Copy bearing the arms and cypher of King Henri IV, from the library of Jesuit school of La Flèche, which Henri IV founded after authorizing the Jesuits to return to France in 1603. To bid, please consult the "Sales information" section.