MERCURIALE, Girolamo Lot n° 120

De arte gymnastica libri sex, In quibus exercitationum omnium vetustarum genera, loca, modi, facultates, & quidquid deniq. ad corporis humani exercitationes pertinet, diligent explicatur Venice, Giunta, 1573 An exceptional copy of a great classic that is most often found in poor condition. Superb book on physical exercises and sport. Very large margin, it was bound in lemon morocco with the coat of arms of Jacques-Auguste de Thou, who was familiar with the doctor Girolamo Mercuriale. Copy of Antoine-Augustin Renouard and the Count of Galard Béarn First illustrated edition. Previous editions include only a plan of the gymnasium. Dedicated to Emperor Maximilian II In-4 (250 x 182mm). Typographic mark of Giunta printed on the title page and on the last page, woodcut initials Collation: *6 A-C8 D10 E-S8 T10 V8 X6; (12), 308 [= 312], 27 pp. Some leaves, such as the first and the last combined leaf of the last book X, have kept their witness, which makes them shorter in their lower margin. Illustration: 24 woodcuts, 23 of which are printed full-page and one smaller one (with two plans), all engraved by Christoforo Coriolano after Pirro Ligorio , bookbinder of the period. Lemon morocco, gilt decoration, arms in the centre of the covers, spine ribbed and gilt with the figure of Thou in the compartments, yellow waxed edges (book and endpaper) Provenance: Jacques-Auguste de Thou (arms) -- Prince de Soubise (cat. 1783, no. 3919) -- Antoine-Augustin Renouard (cat.., 1819, vol. I, p. 354: "mar. jaune, armes de Thou") -- appears in the Book Auction record in 1909 -- Comte René de Galard de Béarn de Brassac (ex-libris armorié), acquired in his sale Coiffes restaurées, articulations fragiles "The first complete text on gymnastics". (Heirs of Hippocrates) In his 1819 catalogue, Antoine-Augustin Renouard classified this copy in the section "Arts de la chasse, de la pêche, arts mécaniques". The last section of the book is