Regiae Bibliothecae Matritensis Codices Graeci MSS. By Juan de Iriarte. Madrid: Antonio Perez de Soto, 1769, folio, a.e.g.
A FINE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION OF THIS IMPORTANT FIRST CATALOGUE OF THE GREEK MANUSCRIPTS IN THE SPANISH ROYAL LIBRARY.
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This is the first edition of this important bibliographical work which includes the catalogue of the Greek manuscripts in the Royal Library at Madrid which also contained the collection of the famous Byzantine scholar, Constantine Lascaris (1434-1501). The author, Juan de Iriarte, was the Royal Librarian and produced this work which is one of the greatest works of bibliography of the period, very finely produced, and here is a magnificent copy of this exceedingly rare work. The author died before completing the intended second part, and so only one volume was produced. This is a complete copy in a magnificent contemporary Spanish (probably Madrid, possibly bound by Antonio de Sancha) fine binding.
A very comparable example can be seen at Christie's 21 March 2005 lot 54 which sold for $5,400 USD (approx. $9,500 USD inflation adjusted), which was in a similar contemporary binding by Antonio de Sanchez who was probably also the binder for our copy (see Matilde Lopez Serrano, Biblioteca del Palacio, 1950 for similar bindings to our copy attributed to Antonio de Sanchez).
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Provenance:
From the collection of Marquess of Cáceres with his inscription to the title leaf verso; this peerage was created in 1790 and the inscription is contemporary to this time, meaning the inscription almost certainly relates to the first Marquess of Cáceres, Juan Garcia de Cáceres, who was the frigate captain of the Spanish Royal Armada.
This copy was sold by Bernard Quaritch, London, item 20 in the Winter 1999 "Early Books" Catalogue to the important Bibliotheca Brookeriana collection. A clipping from this catalogue is provided loosely, as well as a printout from the 2005 Christie's catalogue of the very similar copy which sold for $5,400.
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Size: 252 x 357 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(1), (a)⁴, b–c⁴ d², e¹, A–C⁴, D², (1)]
Contemporary full red morocco, certainly Spanish and probably bound in Madrid. Gilt gillet borders with fleur de lys in each corner, repeating fleur de lys in compartments to the spine with other floral motifs, two black tooled morocco labels extant to spine, the bottom reads "Tom. I" despite only one volume ever having been published, showing quite decisively that this binding is strictly contemporary. Binding very slightly rubbed, some discolouration to boards, but generally externally very attractive indeed, overall in beautiful condition.
Text block generally exceptionally bright and clean throughout. Endpapers and half title toned, extremely minor dampstaining at each end of the page block, but overall an excellent copy. Collates complete with 305 leaves total.
[Palau 121118].
