[Rarebooks] FS: Bartholomaeus' great 13th c. encyclopedia w/woodcuts. Paris: 1556

[Karmbooks at aol.com]

Bartholomaeus, Anglicus. LE GRAND PROPRIETAIRE DE TOUTES CHOSES… Contenant 
Plusieurs Diverses Maladies… les Proprietez du Ciel, de la Terre, des Bestes, 
des Oyseaulx, des Pierres, & des Metaulx… Translate de Latin en Francois par 
Maistre Jean Corbichon. Additions Nouvellement Faictes: Les Vertus & Proprietez 
des Eaues Artificielles & des Herbes… Remede… Contre Fiebure Pestilencieuse… 
Paris: Charles L’Angelier. 1556. Folio. ff.(6),ccxxiiii. Double column text. 
Title with a large woodcut device and text illustrated with 21 fine woodcuts, 
mostly approx. half-page. Cont. paneled calf, gilt tooled, including a central 
ornament on both covers. Title a bit soiled and some minor text soiling, a few 
blank corners torn, but overall a very nice wide-margined copy.      $6,000.00
The last and most complete of the French translations (by Jean Corbichon, 
circa 1372) of this great 13th century encyclopedia of all the sciences of that 
time. It is a key source for medieval studies, similar to the encyclopedias of 
Vincent of Beauvais. The woodcuts at the beginning of each chapter depict 
medieval scenes including dissection of the body, cuts of trees & plants, stones & 
metals, animals, etc. Apparently the Paris, 1556, edition was divided up 
amongst at least 4 booksellers, as there are issues with the imprint for Estienne 
Grouleau, Magdaleine Boursette, Loys de Banuille, and our Charles L’Angelier. 
All are quite uncommon. The OCLC World Cat records only 2 holdings (both with 
the Grouleau imprint). Brunet II, 1623 lists L’Angelier. The BL French lists 
only that of Boursette. Not in Adams. N.U.C. (suppl.) records only 1 copy with 
Grouleau’s imprint.

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