LA HYPNEROTOMACHIE OU DISCOURS DU SONGE POLIPHILE.

A PARIS, L. Blaublom pour Jaques Kerver, aux deux Cochetz, Rue S. Jaques, 1546.. FIRST FRENCH EDITION 1546. Translated from the Italian. Folio in sixes, approximately 345 x 215 mm, 13½ x 8¼ inches, 181 woodcuts of various sizes, 13 full page, large arabesque initials, leaves: [vi], 1-157, [1] (numbered on rectos only), the initials "M" on leaf C6 recto and "F" on leaf D3 verso, were originally printed from crible blocks but arabesque initials have been tipped in over them, modern full morocco binding, gilt lettering to spine and upper cover, blind floral decoration between raised bands to spine, tiny gilt fish to centre of lower cover, blind decoration to covers, new cream endpapers, housed in a slipcase of marbled paper covered board with leather surround at opening. TITLE PAGE AND LAST PAGE (COLOPHON), ARE VERY GOOD FACSIMILES ON OLD PAPER (a pencil note on first pastedown states that it was purchased from Quaritch, London booksellers, in 1977, and that the facsimiles were done in line block and the new endpapers were Kelmscott paper). The first prelim has a small neat repair to lower corner, last page of prelims has outer margins neatly repaired, not affecting text, page 1 has a small neat repair to top margin, not affecting image or text, a few margin edges at front and rear have tiny closed tears neatly repaired, shallow creasing to pages throughout, mostly affecting lower margins, pale ink splash to one lower margin, not near text, pale staining to some margins, one just touching image, occasional neat early old ink marginalia and name to margins, one image has a neat name and note in blank area, last endpaper, probably original, is dusty and has part of outer margin neatly repaired, 2 pieces of paper stuck to first pastedown with relevant notes, some occasional foxing and some handling signs to margins, a small pale curious face on last page with name below in early hand, otherwise a very good copy. See: Alchemy and the Occult. A Catalogueof Books and Manuscripts from the Collection of Paul and Mary Mellon, given to Yale University Library, Volume 1, page 15-19; Harvard Library Catalogue of Books and Manuscripts, Volume 1, Part 1: French 16th Century Books, page 179, No. 145 for detailed description; Short-title Catalogue of books in France and of French books printed in other countries from 1470-1600 now in the British Museum, page 119; Brunet, Volume iv, page 778; Catalogue of Early French Books in the Library of C. Fairfax Murray, page 99-101; Art of the Printed Book 1455-1955, Masterpieces of Typography through 5 centuries in the Pierpont Morgan Library New York, page 11 and plates 30, 31 and 54. The author's name is found only by the large initial letters beginning each chapter, these read from the beginning of the book to the end: POLIAM FRATER FRANCISCVS COLVMNA PERAMAVIT. Francesco Colonna (1433/1434-1527) was a learned Italian Dominican priest credited with the authorship of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili by an acrostic in the text. The story takes the form of an arcane allegory in which Poliphilo pursues his love Polia through a dreamlike landscape, and is, seemingly, at last reconciled with her by the Fountain of Venus. There are frequent references to classical geography and mythology, mostly by way of comparison and the illustrations show scenery, architectural settings, some of the adventures and some of the characters and animals Poliphilo meets in his dreams. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE, FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST.