The Book of Treasures = Li Livres dou Tresor. [Fr. F. v. III, 4. National Library of Russia, St Petersburg, 2 vols, M. Moleiro limited edition facsimile volume, with commentary]

M. Moleiro Editor, Barcelona, limited edition facsimile, 1999 and commentary. Limited edition of 987 numbered copies. 2 vols, facsimile: original blind-stamped calf, folio, 31 cm; commentary: cloth, 4to,. facsimile: 298 pages and 115 miniatures, most heightened in gold, commentary: 496,[1] pp, ills. A superb high-quality facsimile of (and separate commentary on) 'The book of Treasures', which is an encyclopaedia by Brunetto Latini (circa 1230-1294), a Florentine politician, poet, historian and philosopher, teacher and friend of Dante's, written in French during the author's exile in France (1260-1267). From the publisher's description: " It consists of three books: the first begins with the biblical history, the history of Troy, Rome and the Middle Ages, followed by a natural history: a comprehensive compilation of information about astronomy and geography. It also addresses certain animal and bird species in depth. The second book concerns ethics: it features the thinking of modern and classical moralists, and studies the vices and virtues that characterise humanity. The third book, the most original part of this work, deals with matters related to politics and the art of government which is, according to the author, the most important and noblest of all sciences. The miniatures in this codex are extremely rich and varied. The artist's boundless imagination fills the margins of the 18 folios with countless arabesques and drolleries which constitute one of the most highly developed, most interesting and earliest series of this genre in the history of the European miniature. There are also countless beasts, grotesque and peculiar figures, dwarves up to all sorts of tricks, acrobats doing balancing acts and juggling, musicians playing trumpets, flutes, violas, tambourines, organs and bagpipes. Birds, hares, fawns, lions and hounds hunting boars, and even the creation of Eve are depicted too." The commentary volume includes (in both English and Spanish): Foreword, by V.N. Zaitsev (Director of the National Library of Russia, St Petersburg); Codicological and palaeographic study of Li Livres dou Tresor by Brunetto Latini, by L.I. Kisseleva (National Library of Russia, St Petersburg); Artistic and iconographical traits of the St Petersburg manuscript, by I.P. Mokretsova (State Research Institute for Restoration (GosNIIR)); The animal chapters in the Saint Petersburg Li Livres dou Tresor, by W.B. Clark (Marlboro College); and Technical research and manuscript restoration; by I.P. Mokretsova, G.Z. Bykova, V.N. Kiréyeva (State Research Institute for Restoration (GosNIIR)). Copy No. [80]. . A Fine set in the publisher's leather box, which has the leather booklabel of Robert M. Wilson on the inside face.