[Antonio Possevino] Two titles: (1) Doctoris Antonii Possevini Iunioris Philosophi,

et Medici Mantuani. Gonzaga. Calci operis addita Genealogia totius Familiae. Mantua, Osannas Fratres, Ducales Typographos, 1628, (8),858,(2 blank),13,(24) p., with woodcut Gonzaga family crest on the title, woodcut head- and tailpieces, letterpress tables, contemp. vellum, ribbed spine with manuscript title, folio.

Lacks frontispiece and 5 portraits. A few lvs. at the beginning waterst. along fore edge. Endpapers, pastedowns and spine with some wormholes, vellum over spine dam. With old owner's entry in pen of Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun (1655-1716), Scottish bibliophile, globetrotter, author of political works and member of parliament, friend of the philosopher John Locke. The greater part of the huge library (6000 books across a wide range of subjects, often bought during his travels) was sold in the 1960s. See P. J. M. Willems, Bibliotheca Fletcheriana, the extraordinary library of Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun, Reconstructed and Systematically Arranged (1999). We have a number of books with this exact owner's entry in this auction. The rare first edition (no copies in PiCarta) of this genealogical work on the Gonzaga family; (2) Doct. Antonii Possevini junioris, philosophi & medici Mantuani, Belli Monferratensis historis, ab anno salutis M.DC.XII usque ad annum M.DC.XVIIII. Geneva, P. Albertus, 1637, (8),594 p., woodcut title vignette and top- and endpiece, contemp. calf w. ribbed spine, folio. Browned in margins throughout, partly waterst. in margins; this copy has survived a fire, with traces at the beginning and end. Pastedowns detached (revealing waste strips of manuscript vellum used by the binder to strengthen the spine); lower joint splitting (upper joint starting); spine and edges of covers worn. With the same old owner's entry on the title page as (1): Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun. Rare, only 1 copy in PiCarta. Sold w.a.f. (total 2)