First edition of Johannes Magnus’ Historia, 1554

Johannes Magnus:

Historia […] De omnibus gothorum sveonumque regibus.

Roma, apud Ioannem Mariam de Viottis Permensem in Aedibus S. Birgittae, 1554 (colophon). Folio. (29 x 20 cms.) 60 (incl. final blank) + 790 pp. Without final blank. Colophon on page 789.

Full-page printer’s devices on leaf E5v and on final page, full-page woodcut map of Scandinavia on page 14, woodcut papal arms on title, numerous woodcuts in text.

An attractive copy in contemporary vellum. Slightly worn and soiled, covers slightly warped, manuscript title on spine and top edge, spine with slight damage at head. Title with small paper defect in lower margin and some minor holes, first four leaves including title reinforced in gutter. Some worming to margins, slight foxing, a few leaves browned and occasional slight staining, a few short tears and marginal holes. A few marginal annotations and underlinings in the beginning. Signature on title, ”Philippi Monti”.

Provenance: Björn Löwendahl; Stockholms Auktionsverk, 16 dec. 2014.

Lindberg, Swedish Books, 17. Collijn 2:210-16. Adams M 657. First edition of Johannes Magnus’ History, posthumously published by his brother Olaus Magnus. The variant dedicated to Pope Julius III. (The variant dedicated to dukes Erik, Johan, Magnus and Karl opens with an extra woodcut title.)

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