Melissi Schediasmata Poetica 1586

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Paul Melissus (1539-1602)

Melissi Schediasmata Poetica 1586

16.5 cm (Height) x 6.0 cm (Depth) (book measurement (conservation)) | RCIN 1081181

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  • Description The gilt lettering on the upper cover of this binding records its presentation to Elizabeth I by Paul Melissus, one of sixteenth-century Europe’s foremost poets. Famed as poeta laueate of the Holy Roman Empire, Melissus travelled to England in 1585, ostensibly to avoid religious persecution in France following the Treaty of Nemours. Shortly after his arrival at the English court, he published this second edition of his collected poems, dedicating it to Elizabeth in the hope of receiving her patronage. Although many of his poems directly addressed the queen (who herself had once written a poem in response to one of his), Melissus was unsuccessful, and left England in 1586 to take up a position as librarian and counsellor in Heidelberg.This vellum binding is one of only a small number known to have been executed especially for Elizabeth I. Elaborately gold-tooled and incorporating a crowned initial ‘E’, it is similar in style to bindings attributed to the brothers Nicholas and Clovis Eve (active 1578–1634), the pre-eminent bookbinders of the French court, and could well be by one of them. The Royal Library acquired the binding in 1883 from the British Museum, where it had been intentionally separated from the text of the Poetica it originally covered, flattened, and then framed (with the Museum retaining the original textblock). Under the direction of Richard Rivington Holmes, Royal Librarian 1870–1905, it was rebound into an identical edition of the text acquired by the Library in 1890. Holmes would later remark that “[t]he book therefore now is practically in the same state as when it was presented to Queen Elizabeth, and finds a proper home in the Gallery built by her.”

    The ‘Gallery’ at Windsor Castle is an indoor walking gallery dated to 1583, today comprising part of the Royal Library.
    Bibliographic information
    The second edition. Three parts in one, each with separate title-page, index, and pagination. [16], 562, [12], 160, 325, [11] pages. 8vo (the first two gatherings in fours). Signatures: a4, c4, A8-Y8, Aa8-Oo8, Aaa8-Kkk8, Aaaa8-Xxxx8. Printer’s mark (Arnold Sittart) on title-page. Some ornamental woodcut borders, chiefly above poems dedicated to Elizabeth I.


    Further binding information
    Late-sixteenth century French binding of limp vellum, repaired and resewn c.1890 onto a contemporary textblock of approximately the same dimensions of that for which it was originally made. Elaborately gold-tooled à la fanfare, the central compartments lettered ‘D[OMINA] ELISABETHAE REGINAE ANGLIAE D[ONO] D[EDIT] MELISSUS’ (upper cover) and ‘GRATIA REGINAE MUSARUM DAEDALA NUTRIX. M.’ (lower cover), with crowned ‘E’ motifs in two sizes around; cherubs’ heads and olive branches at corners. Recessed flat spine, similarly gold-tooled all over. Medium cover extensions (i.e., yapp edges), tooled along with gilt leafy sprays. Original endpapers lost. Possible traces of ties.ProvenanceBinding (with original textblock) presented to Elizabeth I by Paulus Melissus between 1585–86. Binding (without textblock) acquired in 1883 from British Museum. Present volume comprises a composite of original binding and replacement textblock acquired and rebound c.1890. Loaned by Queen Victoria to the Burlington Fine Art Club Exhibition of Fine Binding in 1891 (Case I, No. 13, p. 47 PI LVI).

    The present copy of the text has contemporary to seventeenth century ownership marks of an Abraham Colbinger or Kolbinger (possibly the Augsburg scholar of the same name, c.1549–c.1620/6), and an Antony or Anthony Holt.  
  • People involved
  • Physical properties Measurements16.5 cm (Height) x 6.0 cm (Depth) (book measurement (conservation))16.5 x 6.0 cm (book measurement (inventory))
  • Groupings CategoryObject type(s)Subject(s)
  • References Other number(s) Holmes : Holmes, R.R., 1893. Specimens of royal fine and historical bookbinding, selected from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, London – Holmes B 11 Bibliographic reference(s) Paulus Melissus and Jacobus Falckenburgius : two German Protestant humanists at the court of Queen Elizabeth / Lee Piepho. (The Sixteenth Century Journal, vol. 38, no. 1 (Spring, 2007), pp. 97-110) Alternative title(s)Melissi Schediasmata Poetica / [Paul Melissus] [3 parts in 1 vol.]
  • Places Place of ProductionParis [Île-de-France]

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