Apr 16, 2026 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
26
Ancient portraiture, illustrated, in a handsome contemporary binding
Property sold to benefit Albertus Magnus High School
[URSINUS, FULVIUS]
Johannes Faber, editor and Theodore Galle, illustrator. Illustrium imagines, ex antiquis maroribus, nomismatibus, et gemmis expressae. Antwerp: Plantin, 1606. First edition with Johannes Faber's commentary. Contemporary limp vellum with gilt ruled borders and a central laurel wreath motif in gilt to each cover, all edges gilt, 8 5/8 x 6 1/4 inches (22 x 16 cm). In a modern box of vellum over beige cloth. Collation: 4º: A4 (lacking the blank A1) B2 *4 2A–2B4 C–M4; engraved title page, portrait of Fulvius Urisnus, 151 numbered portrait plates, 17 portrait plates lettered A-R, and an additional 7 unlabeled portrait plates in a section labeled "appendicula nondum edita" in contemporary manuscript, for a total of 175 portrait plates. Binding rubbed, with a few small stains. Some light foxing throughout. Bookplate of Giuseppe Boldrin to the front pastedown.
Fulvius Ursinus, or Fulvio Orsini, was an Italian humanist and historian, known for his enormous collection of antiquities, including books and manuscripts, coins, gems, and sculptures. In 1598, the Flemish engraver Theodore Galle published 151 plates illustrating the ancient portrature held by Ursinus and other Roman collectors. The present edition always includes the seventeen additional plates labeled A-R, but we do not trace any examples of this title that include the seven unpublished plates in the "appendicula nondum edita."
Sold for $1,216
Estimated at $500 - $750
Includes Buyer's Premium
Property sold to benefit Albertus Magnus High School
[URSINUS, FULVIUS]
Johannes Faber, editor and Theodore Galle, illustrator. Illustrium imagines, ex antiquis maroribus, nomismatibus, et gemmis expressae. Antwerp: Plantin, 1606. First edition with Johannes Faber's commentary. Contemporary limp vellum with gilt ruled borders and a central laurel wreath motif in gilt to each cover, all edges gilt, 8 5/8 x 6 1/4 inches (22 x 16 cm). In a modern box of vellum over beige cloth. Collation: 4º: A4 (lacking the blank A1) B2 *4 2A–2B4 C–M4; engraved title page, portrait of Fulvius Urisnus, 151 numbered portrait plates, 17 portrait plates lettered A-R, and an additional 7 unlabeled portrait plates in a section labeled "appendicula nondum edita" in contemporary manuscript, for a total of 175 portrait plates. Binding rubbed, with a few small stains. Some light foxing throughout. Bookplate of Giuseppe Boldrin to the front pastedown.
Fulvius Ursinus, or Fulvio Orsini, was an Italian humanist and historian, known for his enormous collection of antiquities, including books and manuscripts, coins, gems, and sculptures. In 1598, the Flemish engraver Theodore Galle published 151 plates illustrating the ancient portrature held by Ursinus and other Roman collectors. The present edition always includes the seventeen additional plates labeled A-R, but we do not trace any examples of this title that include the seven unpublished plates in the "appendicula nondum edita."
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, Apr 16, 2026
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Successful Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on April 16, 2026 Surpasses Expectations
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Thomas Jefferson Letter Commenting on Toussaint Louverture Achieves $32,000
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
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We Invite You to Contact Us for Complimentary Auction Estimates of Your Collection
NEW YORK, NY – Doyle's auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on April 16, 2026 saw international competition drive strong results throughout the sale and a total that surpassed expectations.
Thomas Jefferson Letter on Toussaint Louverture
Highlighting the sale was a fascinating 1802 letter from Thomas Jefferson as president to Maryland Governor John Francis Mercer that achieved a strong $32,000. The remarkable letter captures a rare, candid moment in which Jefferson assesses, with striking clarity, the arrest of Toussaint Louverture, a leader of the Haitian Revolution, by French General Charles LeClerc, Napoleon’s brother-in-law. Jefferson perceptively warned that LeClerc’s actions would erode trust and likely spark further racial conflict—an insight that proved remarkably accurate. Beyond its sharp political foresight, the letter reflects the broader anxiety the Haitian Revolution provoked in the United States, which contributed to decades of diplomatic isolation of Haiti.
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Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
