A single, original leaf (page) from Inscriptiones Sacrosanctae, published by Peter Apian in 1533. Paper, measures about 8 1/4" x 12 1/8". This leaf contains pages 439 to 440 of the book.

This leaf comes with a CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY from the dealer who sold it to our father. Also included is a reduced photocopy of the title page and the following page (which contains the Fugger coat of arms).

Published when the art of printing was in its infancy, Inscriptiones Sacrosanctae provided an overview for the study of classical inscriptions, mostly Latin, known as epigraphy. While best known for his lavish scientific works, printer, mathematician, astrologer and geographer Peter Apian (1495-1552) was commissioned by the banker Raimund Fugger to publish these ancient inscriptions. The work played an important part in transmitting Italian material culture to Northern Europe.

The majority of the inscriptions reproduced in the book came from Fugger's own celebrated collection. This particular leaf reflects Apian's desire to please his patrons: all of page 439 and the top half of page 440 contain epitaphs of members of the Fugger family, a German upper-bourgeois banking family who controlled much of the European economy in the sixteenth century and accumulated enormous wealth.

The leaf is well-preserved as shown, with browning around the edges and some staining on the left side of page 439 (right side of page 440).

It is suitable for framing -- this leaf would make a nice holiday gift for the archaeologist or banker in your life.

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Our father was a bibliophile who collected rare books, letters, and ephemera for more than 60 years. For now and into the foreseeable future, we will be listing rare paper items from his estate.

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