De inventoribus rerum is a history of discoveries and origins, of which this copy is a first edition. This encyclopaedic text was divided into three sections, describing the beginnings of all human activities, including discussions on religion, law, military science, money, agriculture, architecture, and commerce. Due to its perspective on heresy and the origin of God, it was placed on the Catholic Church’s Index of banned books many times, even though an expurgated version was published in 1576. Nevertheless, the book was extremely popular, running through 30 Latin editions by the time of its author’s death in 1555, and being translated into French, German, Spanish and English.

Bibliographic description

Royal paper 8vo. [88] leaves. Signatures: a⁶ b-k⁸ l¹⁰. No decoration, but printed guide-letters. 

Binding description

Eighteenth-century calf, five raised sewing stations and raised bands. Covers undecorated; spine with gilt tooling and titling; gilt edges; marbled endpapers. Repaired in the nineteenth century (re-back with original spine onlayed; buckram on inner joints).