GOLTZIUS (Hubert).

The Images of almost all the emperors since C. Julius Caesar until Charles V and Ferdinandus his brother, pourtraits au vif, prinses des médailles anciennes. S.l.n.n., 1561 [at colophon] : Antwerp, Hubert Goltz, de l'Imprimerie de Gilles Coppenius de Diest, 1559. In-folio, brown calf, cold-stamped on ais, fillet and roulette framing a central rectangle, gilt coat of arms in the centre of the first plate, medallion on the second, traces of clasps, spine ribbed (Binding of the time). First edition in French of this famous gallery of portraits of Roman emperors from Julius Caesar to Charles V, by the Flemish engraver, antiquarian and numismatist Hubert Goltzius (1526-1583). The Latin original appeared in Antwerp in 1557. REMARKABLE CAMAÏEU ENGRAVED ILLUSTRATION by Goltzius including a superb Renaissance-style cartouche title (with a different coloured background depending on the edition, Latin, French, Italian, German or Spanish) and 134 engraved portraits after medals from the main numismatic collections of the time; some medallions are left empty EXAMPLE WITH THE ARMS OFTOINE DE ROORE, ABBE OF THE ABBEY OF SAINT-MARTIN DE TOURNAI, to which has been added a portrait of this clergyman engraved by Petrus de Jode. The medallion on the second plate shows St. Martin on horseback sharing his cloak. Without the last leaf Gg4, blank. Some foxing, wetness at the beginning and especially at the end of the volume. Tear without missing repaired to folio Q1. Restored worm gallery on the last 8 leaves, with loss of letters; wormholes throughout the volume (affecting the engravings). Binding rubbed, some restorations.