Girolamo Ruscelli - Le Imprese Illustri Aggiuntovi nuovam il Quarto Libro emblemata Italian emblemy - 1584

A 1584 edition of Girolamo Ruscelli's ‘Le Imprese Illustri’ adding a new fourth book of Italian emblems. Titled ‘Aggiuntovi nuovam il Quarto Libro’ (Newly Added Fourth Book). The book, dedicated to Prince Guglielmo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Monferrato, features illustrations of emblems from the collection by Ruscelli (Viterbo, 1584). This is Ruscelli's most lavishly illustrated edition, containing 145 emblems of different sizes, featuring animals, birds, plants, the sun, the stars, etc., 2 double-sided plates depicting the coats of arms of Charles V and Phillip II, each engraved title page, and an index. The book is in good condition, with some light foxing, browning, and a few small stains and light marginal stains on the top edge of some pages. It has a small vertical tear in the side dedicated to Alessandro Farnese, but it doesn't touch the coat of arms. This antique book contains two double-sided plates, including the coat of arms of Charles V and Phillip II, which together make up 496 pages.