Speculum vitae aulicae. De admirabili fallacia et astutia Vulpeculae Reinikes libri quatuor. [Reynard the Fox]. by [Reynard the Fox] Reinke de Vos, Latin; Hartmann Schopper, trans.; Jost Amman, illus - 1584

Frankfurt: N. Bassaeus, 1584. Hard cover. Very Good/Schopper's Latin version of the popular German beast epic narrating the adventures of Reynard the Fox, who outwits his enemies by sheer effrontry and brazen deceit. The Medieval Reynard cycle evolved out of Flemish and Dutch versions, and was first published in Low German in 1498. Schopper's Latin version, originally issued in 1567, made the stories available to a pan-European audience. This edition is especially noteworthy for its charming series of 57 woodcuts by the German master Jost Amman. They proved quite popular and were reprinted through the 17th century.. 12mo (14 cm); [20, 465, [1] pages, [9] leaves (lacks final blank leaf); woodcut printer's device on title; with 57 woodcut illustrations (from 51 blocks) by Jost Amman in text. About a third of the woodcuts have been hand-colored with varying degrees of skill by an early reader. Bound in contemporary vellum, double-fillet panels with fleurons at outer corners and a floral ornament in centers, gilt but oxidized to black. Spine divided into four compartments. At foot of title page is an ownership inscription dated 1595, from Melchior Blorock of Wurzburg; a few other later entries on title page; worming on pastedowns. References: VD16, R-1015; Brunet V, 1222.