First edition of the Emblemata by Hadrianus Junius (1511-1575), a Dutch physician who took his doctorate in Bologna. He is best known as a prolific classical scholar, translator, lexicographer, antiquarian, historiographer, school rector, Latin poet and "one of the most creative and influential sixteenth-century pioneers of neo-Latin emblematics. His emblem book of 1565 (Emblemata) is a true masterpiece, with regard to both form and content: the epigrams themselves, their woodcut illustrations, and the harmonious layout of the booklet as a whole. ... a master of Latin verse, ... ingenious inventio, ... In marked difference with the early editions of Andrea Alciatos ... Juniuss picturae were made by very skilful craftsmen" (Enenkel, who devotes an entire chapter to this book and calls the variety of Juniuss metres "a most spectacular artistic achievement").
Capé apparently bound the book for himself, for it was auctioned with his library in 1868, the catalogue noting the 57 woodcuts and describing the binding as "mar[oquin]. r[ouge]. jansén[iste]. tr[anches]. dor[ées]. (Capé)", a Jansenist binding being a high quality binding that shuns external decoration. The later bookplate of the bibliophile couple Anne (Pardee) Lyon Haight (1891-1977) and Sherman Post Haight (1889-1980).
Though rebound ca. 1850/60, only about 4 mm has been trimmed from the fore-edge and perhaps a bit more at the head. With the paper very slightly browned and one or two minor marginal spots, but otherwise internally in very good condition. The lower outside corner of the binding is slightly damaged (with a 1 x 2 cm scuff on the front and a smaller one on the back) and the edge of the turn-in has lifted in one place (4 cm along the foot of the front marbled paste-down), but otherwise in good condition, with only some tiny scuff marks around the extremities. Belg. Typ., 1662; Landwehr, Emblem books Low Countries (1970), nr. 276; Landwehr, Emblem books Low Countries 1542-1813 (1988), nr. 399; Max Rooses, intr. For the reprint from the original woodblocks in Editions du Musée Plantin-Moretus (1901); Praz, pp. 37-38, 384-385; Vinet, nr. 847; Voet, no. 1476-1477.