PALLADIUS.

De re rustica libri XIIII. Paris, Robert Estienne, 1543. - MERULA (Giorgio). Enarrationes vocum priscarum in libris de Re rustica. Ibid. - VETTORI (Pietro). Explicationes suarum in Catonem, Varronem, Columellam castigationum. Ibid. - TACITUS. Annotationes. Beati Rhenani, Alciati, ac Beroaldi. Lyon, Sébastien Gryphe, 1542. - TACITUS. In Annalium libros. Lyon, Sébastien Gryphe, 1541. Set of 5 works in one volume in-8, brown calf blindstamped, double framed with crossed fillets at the corners, stamped plate in the centre, spine ribbed, lining of handwritten vellum leaf (Binding of the time). Renouard, Estienne, p. 55. - Baudrier, t. VIII, p. 147 and 164. Collection constituted by an amateur of the 16th century, who joined to the three of the five parts of the Scriptores rei rusticae, famous collection of texts of great Latin agronomists printed by Robert Estienne in 1542, two Lyon editions of the Annals of the historian Cornelius Tacitus with commentaries by Alciat, Beatus Rhenanus and Philippe Béroalde the elder. RARE ESTAMPED BINDING OF THE GLANDS PLAQUE, SIGNED BY JEAN NORVINS, bookbinder who practiced in the first half of the 16th century. This plate is of a nice composition: it is formed of a border with thistles, acorns, chimeras and foliage, framing a central panel decorated with two opposite columns of redents ended by an acorn and bearing at the foot the signature Jehan Norins [sic]. Generally associated with Jean Norvins, a bookbinder who seems to have worked in Paris in the years 1520-1540, it turns out to be of Flemish manufacture and was used by other bookbinding workshops in France, Germany and Italy in the first half of the 16th century. It is reproduced by Gruel in his manual, vol. I, p. 137, and by Mirjam Foot in the Henry Davis Gift catalogue, vol. III, no. 11. Handwritten bookplates on the title of the first book, one dated 1597. From the library of Charles van der Elst (1988, no. 124). Light marginal spotting on a few leaves of the first book. Covers restored and upper and lower bindings restored.