LUCKE, Johann Jacob - Lot 20

LUCKE, Johann Jacob Sylloge Numismatum Elegantiorum : Quae Diversi Impp: Reges, Principes Comites, Respublicae Diversas ob causas ab Anno 1500, ad Annum usq[ue] 1600 Strasbourg, Johann Repp, 1620 RARE NUMISMATIC WORK. PRECIOUS EXEMPLAIRE WITH THE ARMS OF NICOLAS-JOSEPH FOUCAULT, CREATOR OF ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED CABINETS OF ANTIQUES AND MEDALS IN THE 16th AND 17th CENTURIES. BERNARD MALLE'S COPY ORIGINAL EDITION, FIRST CONDITION In folio (322 x 185mm). Numerous woodcut fleurons, culs-de-lampe and initials. CONDITION: according to the Getty Research Institute, this copy is from an earlier issue than the one in which there are (1) two quires (b and c) of praise poems for the author and (2) a different typographical composition of the preface. It conforms absolutely to the collation given by VD17 3:653580D and that of the Getty Research Institute. COLLATION: a4 A-Z4 2A-Y4 X2 2Z4 2X1 3A-B4 3X1 ILLUSTRATION: handsome engraved frontispiece depicting Charles V and Henry II, designed by Frédéric Brentel and engraved by Strasbourg silversmith and engraver Pierre Aubry I, engraved coat of arms of dedicatee Eberhard von Rappoltstein, numerous engravings printed in the text depicting medals struck in Europe in the 16th century. BINDING CIRCA 1700. Fawn calf, gilt decoration, coat of arms in the center of the boards, double fillet, highly ornate spine. PROVENANCE : Nicolas Joseph Foucault (1643-1721; coat of arms), intendant of Caen, famous bibliophile, with his date of acquisition: Emptus 6 l.[ivres] 22 Mai 1684 -- Nicolas Joseph Foucault, marquis de Magny (1677-1772), son of the above, with his armorial bookplate -- Bernard Malle, with a note in pencil in his own hand Very slight worm damage in some lower margins, old marginal restorations in 2G1 and booklet 2O-P. Johann Jacob Lucke (1574-1653) was an Alsatian numismatist and genealogist renowned for having renewed the historical approach to 16th-century medals. The work's dedicatee, Eberhard de Rappoltstein or de Ribeaupierre, born in 1570, received his early education in Strasbourg and later attended the University of Tübingen. For many years, he was the Habsburgs' most trusted man in Alsace, particularly under Rudolf II. As a soldier, he distinguished himself in the imperial armies during the Dutch War, and fought valiantly against the Turks. He died on August 12, 1637. His family died out with the Wittelsbachs at the end of the 17th century. The owner of this book, Nicolas Joseph Foucault, famous French administrator and great collector, was the son of Joseph Foucault, Colbert's confidant, and grandson of Métezeau, the architect of the Place des Vosges. An avid bibliophile, Foucault used his positions as Intendant in the French provinces to expand his collections. On Colbert's behalf, he acquired the great Carolingian manuscripts from Moissac, donated by Colbert's heirs to the Bibliothèque du Roi. With the help of his secretary Antoine Galland, famous editor of the Thousand and One Nights, he built up one of the most important antique cabinets of his time. In 1708, he parted with his numismatic collection, considered the equal of that of Christine of Sweden. It soon joined the Bibliothèque du Roi and is now housed in the Cabinet des Médailles. Antoine Schnapper has made a remarkable study of it. This rare work by Johann Jacob Lucke was not there by chance. BIBLIOGRAPHY : J.-C. Brunet III, col. 1217: "recueil devenu assez rare" -- VD17 3:653580D for the first state, like this copy; quite different from the second state: VD17 23:232008R -- Cicognara n° 2910 -- M. Avisseau-Broustet, "La Collection de Nicolas-Joseph Foucault (1643-1721) et de Nicolas Mahudel (1673-1747)", INHA -- A. Schnapper, Le Géant, la licorne et la tulipe, 1988, pp. 297-301