Viage de Ambrosio de Morales Por Orden del Rey D. Phelipe II. A Los Reynos de Leon, Y Galicia, Y Principado de Asturias. Para reconocer Las Reliquias de Santos, Sepulcros Reales, y Libros manuscritos de las Cathedrales, y Monasterios. Dale a luz Con Notas, Con La Vida Del Autor, Y Con Su Retrato, El Rmo. P. Mro. Fr. Henrique Florez, del Orden del Gran Padre S. Augustin. Madid: Antonio Marin, 1765, folio.
The Voyage of Ambrosio de Morales, by Order of King Philip II, to the Kingdoms of León and Galicia, and the Principality of Asturias, to examine the Relics of Saints, Royal Tombs, and Manuscript Books of the Cathedrals and Monasteries. Published with Notes, with the Life of the Author, and with his Portrait, by the Most Reverend Master Friar Henrique Flórez, of the Order of the Great Father St Augustine. Madrid: Antonio Marín, 1765, folio.
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FIRST EDITION WITH DISTINGUISHED PROVENANCE of an exceedingly rare work which describes the travels of Ambrosio de Morales. This work is important and includes accounts and descriptions of "several hundred ancient manuscripts now lost", including the codex unicus of the works of Eulogius of Cordoba whose works would be entirely lost if not for Morales. It is a significant work in that it combines bibliography with travel, and is also of great scholarly interest concerning various relics and objects once kept in churches throughout the areas Morales surveys. The scarcity of this original is strongly demonstrated, as well as its ongoing scholarly utility, by the publication of two facsimile editions in 1977 and 1985, as well as another of the original MS in 2012.
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Provenance:
Bookseller label of Vicente Salva (1786-1849) to head of ffep verso. Possibly sold by him to Andres Oseguera with his ownership inscription also to ffep verso and the title page, the former being dated 1849 and placed in Paris. Then with the institutional monastic collection of the Saint Aloysius Jesuits with their ink stamp to ffep verso, and another, now mostly illegible, of "Sainte Genevieve...", possibly associated with the former. Then acquired by Anthony Hobson, the eminent book historian and long standing Director of Sotheby's, where sold at Christie's 9 June 2015 lot 188, realising £1,625 (approx. £2,250 inflation adjusted), where acquired by the important Bibliotheca Brookeriana collection, thereafter acquired by WoodPaz Books Ltd and here presented for sale.
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Size: 208 x 290 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[*2, ¶-4¶4, A-2E4]
Contemporary full mottled sheep, attractive on the shelf with binding secure, both boards securely attached. Contemporary tooled red morocco label retained to spine, evidence there was another label, now lacking, to compartment below, but without aesthetic intrusion. All edges red. Some gilt loss, but shows well nonetheless. Binding rubbed with minor losses. Lacks original preliminary blank else collates as complete, including the attractive engraved frontispiece portrait, i.e. textually complete. Bookplate of Anthony Hobson to head of front pastedown with numerous other provenance related inscriptions, stamps, etc, to ffep verso and title leaf, else internally a very bright, fresh, and clean copy, well preserved, with some minor restoration to the gutter of the front free endpaper. A very good copy of what is an exceedingly rare book, with this being the only copy to have come to the market in a very long time.
[Palau 180634 (‘this work is rare’)].
