Apr 16, 2026 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
82
Federico Grisone's foundational treatise on dressage
GRISONE, FEDERICO
Ordini di cavalcare, et modi di conoscere le nature de cavalli. Venice: Gratiofo Perchacino, 1569. Contemporary vellum, manuscript title in ink to spine. 6 x 4 inches (15 x 10 cm). Collation: A-S8 [1] 2-109 [110 - 164] pp; woodcut title vignette, historiated woodcut initials, 50 full-page woodcuts. Binding slightly worn with old stains to covers, occasional spotting to text (mostly in the margins), some toning, early ex-libris ink signature to front pastedown.
A foundational treatise on 16th-century classical horsemanship. Federico Grisone was a Neapolitan nobleman and one of the first masters of dressage, and was regarded in his time as the "father of the art of equitation." Modern dressage has evolved into an important equestrian pursuit since the publication of "The Rules of Riding" in 1550, one of the first notable European treatises on equitation since Xenophon's "On Horsemanship." A best-seller of its time, twenty-one Italian editions were printed between 1550 and 1623; fifteen translated editions were published in French, seven in German, one in Spanish and six in English.
Sold for $704
Estimated at $400 - $600
Includes Buyer's Premium
GRISONE, FEDERICO
Ordini di cavalcare, et modi di conoscere le nature de cavalli. Venice: Gratiofo Perchacino, 1569. Contemporary vellum, manuscript title in ink to spine. 6 x 4 inches (15 x 10 cm). Collation: A-S8 [1] 2-109 [110 - 164] pp; woodcut title vignette, historiated woodcut initials, 50 full-page woodcuts. Binding slightly worn with old stains to covers, occasional spotting to text (mostly in the margins), some toning, early ex-libris ink signature to front pastedown.
A foundational treatise on 16th-century classical horsemanship. Federico Grisone was a Neapolitan nobleman and one of the first masters of dressage, and was regarded in his time as the "father of the art of equitation." Modern dressage has evolved into an important equestrian pursuit since the publication of "The Rules of Riding" in 1550, one of the first notable European treatises on equitation since Xenophon's "On Horsemanship." A best-seller of its time, twenty-one Italian editions were printed between 1550 and 1623; fifteen translated editions were published in French, seven in German, one in Spanish and six in English.
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.
