A book that could fit in your pocket
Sebastianus Castellio, Moses Latinus ex Hebraeo factus per Sebastianum Castalionem explicantur. Basileae: [Colophon: Joannes Oporinus, 1546]. In-8. OTM: Band 3 B 6
Some notable owners have owned this small book measuring 17,5 x 11 cm. What makes this item so alluring in addition to its handy size? The parchment is warped, and the book does not open properly. It is very tightly bound and the front edge of the book-block is almost sticking out. All probably due to climatic influences and (re?)binding method, but this certainly does not spoil the pleasure. Part of what makes this book special is that it is one of the few parchment bindings in the Bandenkast, most are leather-bound. The explanation for this may be that, although in the time parchment was often used for bindings, this was probably not the best choice for stylish bindings for an upper-class collector, his library a showcase of wealth and prestige. The books in the Bandenkast are almost all made for affluent clients, using the best leathers, all masterpieces of bookbinding, making this binding an odd one out. Parchment on the other hand was a good choice for books for daily use, durable enough to withstand wear and tear. As it is weather-susceptible, the parchment is commonly warped, but even then remains super tough and austere. Very appropriate material for scholarly texts, as is this bible commentary by Sebastian Castellio (1515-1563), and maybe a telling choice made by the owner of this book, a scholarly man of means who was not afraid to confront controversial issues.
Gold tooled monogram. Above: on the left cover in Greek, Δ Σ Ι. Below: on the right cover in Latin, D S.
Who was D S, erroneously spelled as Denis de Salbo in the University of Amsterdam catalogue? The misspelling originated in the Sotheby's catalogue of the 1967 Abbey sale and should be Denis de Sallo. Denis de Sallo was a French philosopher, politician, lawyer, writer, and maybe most importantly, founder in 1665 of the first French academic periodical in the vernacular, the Journal des savants (1665-now). As a critical scholar, journalist and Jansenist, De Sallo would have been interested in the work of Castellio, a French preacher and theologian, who got caught up in a polemical argument on Bible interpretation with one-time friend and inspirator Jean Calvin (1509-1564), which resulted in Castellio’s banishment from Geneva. To read Castellio would have meant to aggravate Calvin, and it is evident that Calvin was not someone to have against you. A scant hundred years later, in De Sallo's time, Castellio’s work and Calvin were in the past, however religious quarrels continued and Denis de Sallo’s Jansenist preferences and refusal to submit to censorship, were not appreciated by Rome. His writings in the Journal des savants were considered undesirable, the Journal was suppressed after three months and continued in 1666 under another editor. De Sallo’s affinity for the printed word continued, be it in ill health.
‘The generally useful biographical dictionary of Louis Moréri tells us that De Sallo’s continual attachment to books led to a disease that deprived him of a capacity to walk, so that he had to be carried from his house to his carriage; a medical colleague suggests that this with other indications suggest a diabetic condition.’ (Brown 1972 p. 369)
De Sallo was only 43 when he died in 1669, his library is said to have consisted of an impressive 207 manuscripts and 3728 printed works (Vittu). A 1670 catalogue confirming this, has unfortunately been declared lost by the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.
Title-page of the Journal des savants. Amsterdam: Chez Pierre le Grand, 1665
Later ownership
George Dunn and Major John Roland Abbey were two of the later owners of Band 3 B 6.
The bookplates of Major John Roland Abbey and George Dunn, with an unidentified bookplate in the middle.
Dunn and Abbey were only two of the many British bibliophiles who zealously collected books, in Abbey’s case collected, sold, and started collecting all over again, but more about him later. George Dunn seems to have been a more traditional collector, where it’s all about finding and buying, letting go is another story. His library was not sold until after his death and even then according to Ricci regrettably, as his collection of manuscripts, incunabula and unusual early printed books was in its integrity a showcase for the development of the history of printing. In all there were 4627 lots, sold in four sales at Sotheby’s in London. Both Band 3 B 6 and Band 1 F 12, with the Man of Sorrows panel and also owned by Dunn, were part of the Sotheby’s sale in 1917 and snapped up respectively by antiquarian bookseller Quaritch and Ulco Proost.
By the way
Band 3 B 6 is one of eleven ruled works in the Bandenkast. Ruling refers to the thin ruled lines, usually red, on the pages. They frame the text on the title-page and on the pages, frequently also underlining the text, and were probably drawn after binding. Ruling was a common practice in the 16th and 17th century, no doubt inspired by the medieval custom of rubricating initials, underlining the text and adding annotations and symbols in the margins of manuscripts to guide the reader through the work. In the Middle Ages this was an educational tool to aid the reader in understanding the text. It seems ruling as seen in Band 3 B 6 was more of a decorative choice. Although not all the descriptions of the books from his library below mention it, based on those which do it is probable that De Sallo’s books were all ruled.
Ruled title-page. Band 3 B 6
Provenance
Δ Σ Ι / D S = Denis de Sallo, Sieur de la Coudraye (1629-1669)
George Dunn (1864-1912)
Bernard Quaritch, antiquarian bookseller
Major John Roland Abbey (1894-1969)
University of Amsterdam. Bought at Sotheby's J.R. Abbey sale. 19/21-6-1967
A selection of bindings from the library of Denis de Sallo
Pontanus, Opera omnia… Venetiis: Aldus, 1518. Dark brown calf, gold tooling, monogram. The Folger Shakespeare Library PA8570 P5 A1 1518
Sebastianus Castellio, Moses Latinus ex Hebraeo factus per Sebastianum Castalionem explicantur. Basileae: [Colophon: Ioannis Oporini, 1546]. In-8. Parchment with gold tooling, monogram, ruled copy. University of Amsterdam OTM: Band 3 B 6.
Orus Apollo, De sacris apud Ægyptios notis ac caelaturis, Latinitate per Io. Mercerum Vticensem donatus, etc. [Paris: Christianus Wechelus, 1548]. Black morocco, gold tooling, monogram. The British Library c64h14.
Berosius, Chaldaici, antiquitatum Italiae ac totius orbis libri quinque… Antverpiae: in aedibus Ioan. Steelsii. 1552. Convolute. In-8. Parchment, gold tooling, monogram, ruled copy. Ter Lugt Collection, Leiden.
Ovidius Naso. Fastorum Libri VI. Tristium Libri V. De Ponto Libri IIII. Lyon: apud Seb. Gryphium, 1554. In-8. Parchment, gold tooling, monogram, ruled copy. Christie’s sale London. The Salloch collection. 31 October-1 November 1991. Sale 4458, lot 216.
Lucretius, De rerum natura libri sex. Antwerpiae: Christophe Plantin, 1566. Convolute. In-8. Parchment, gold tooling, monogram, ruled copy. Auction Alde, Paris. 12 December 2019.
Crusius, Turcograeciae Libri Octi etc. Basel: L. Ostein / S. Henricpetri, 1584 b.w. one other work. In-fol. Calf, gold tooling, monogram. Sotheby’s sale Macclesfield Library. London, 15 March 2007. Lot 3122.
Autores rei venaticæ antiqui... Leyde: Elzévir, 1653. In-12. Calf, gold tooling, monogram. Auction Alde, Paris. 19 November 2020. Lot 6.
Descartes, Le Monde, ou le Traité de la lumière… Paris: Michel Bobin & Nicolas Le Gras, 1664. In-8. Calf, gold tooled, monogram. Auction Drouot?, France. Lot 18.
From the library of George Dunn
OTM: Band 3 B 6.
OTM: Band 1 F 12
From the library of Major John Roland Abbey in the Bandenkast
OTM: Band 1 A 5
OTM: Band 1 C 15
OTM: Band 1 D 19
OTM: Band 1 F 14
OTM: Band 1 H 3
OTM: Band 1 H 11
OTM: Band 2 A 4
OTM: Band 2 B 1
OTM: Band 2 C 2
OTM: Band 2 C 12
OTM: Band 2 D 15,16 and 17
OTM: Band 3 B 6
OTM: Band 3 C 16
Sales and catalogues Band 3 B 6
Catalogue of the Valuable and Extensive Library Formed by George Dunn, Esq. (Disceased). Third and Final Portion. London: Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 22-29 November 1917. No. 1909.
Catalogue of Valuable Printed Books and Fine Bindings from the Celebrated Collection the Property of Major J.R. Abbey. The Third Portion. London: Sotheby & Co, 19, 20, 21 June 1967. No. 1673.
Bibliography
OTM: Band 3 B 6 at the University of Amsterdam
Binding description Band 3 B 6 at bandenkast.blogspot.com
Morgan E. Aronson, ‘The Reader-Rubricator: A type not often found.’ Blogpost Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, September 4, 2019. (Retrieved May 2021.)
Irena Backus, ‘Moses, Plato and Flavius Josephus. Castellio’s Conceptions of Sacred and Profane in his Latin Versions of the Bible.’ In: Bruce Gordon & Matthew MxcLean (Eds), Shaping the Bible in the Reformation. Books, Scholars and Their Readers in the Sixteenth Century. Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2012. p. 143-165. Conclusion: p. 163-165.
Harcourt Brown, 'History and the Learned Journal.’ In: Festschrift for Philip P. Wiener. Journal of the History of Ideas. Volume XXXIII Number 3. July-September 1972. p. 365-378.
Joannes Guigard, Armorial du Bibliophile. Paris, Librarie Bachelin-Deflorenne. 1870. p. 194-5.
O.E. Ris Paquot, Dictionnaire encyclopédique des marques & monogrammes etc. Paris: Henri Laurens, (1893). p. 137.
Seymour De Ricci, English Collectors of Books & Manuscripts (1530-1930) and Their Marks of Ownership. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1930. On George Dunn: p.182-3.
Jean-Pierre Vittu, ‘Denis de Sallo’. In: Dictionnaire des journalistes 1600-1789. (Retrieved May 2021.)
Richard S. Westfall, Denys (Denis) de Sallo. Galileo Project. (Retrieved May 2021.)
[Pam van Holthe]