SWEERTS (François).

Deorum dearumque capita, ex antiquis numismatibus Abrahami Ortelii collecta, et historica narratione illustrata. Antwerp, J. B. de Vrients, 1602. Small in-4, fawn calf, fillet and lace scroll, spandrels and central medallion with interlacing on azure background, smooth spine decorated, spotted edges (19th century binding). First edition of the text by François Sweerts, which gives the names of the gods represented, their genealogy and attributes, from quotations of ancient authors. Third edition of the illustration, finely engraved in intaglio by Philippe Galle, comprising a title-frontispiece and 59 full-page figures, engraved after coins collected in Italy by Abraham Ortell, known as Ortelius, and placed in superb baroque frames. This iconography had already appeared in 1573 (54 fig.) and in 1582 (59 fig.), without the text by Sweerts. A copy given by the author to Maximiliaan de Vriendt (1559-1614), secretary of the city of Ghent and neo-Latin poet, apparently a member of the publisher's family, with this handwritten dispatch at the bottom of the title-page: Nobiliss° doctissimoq. viro D. Maximo Æmyliano Vrintio S.P.Q. Gand. à secretis Franc. Sweertius F.L.M.D.D. Under this inscription is the handwritten bookplate of Jacob van Breusseghem, of Ghent, dated 1656. From the libraries of Dr. Charles Groffier (1955, no. 676), with bookplate, and Charles van der Elst (1988, II, no. 140), with bookplate. Boards and spine from a contemporary binding rebound, endpapers renewed, some cracking and rubbing. Simoni, O-32.