Excelencias de la monarchia y reyno de España ….

Valladolid, Por Diego Fernandez de Cordova, 1597.. FIRST EDITION. Folio (28.5 x 19.5 cm.), contemporary limp vellum (recased; relatively recent endleaves), title vertically in manuscript on spine. Large woodcut of royal arms of Spain on title page. Woodcut initials. Ruled borders. Occasional light foxing and minor stains. A few small marginal wormholes on first 2 and last few leaves. Overall in good condition. Old ownership signature, scored, on title page; another signature (?) scored on blank verso of title page. Notes on final blank page. A few early marginal notations. (12), 84 ll., signed ¶4, a8, A-K8, L4. Folio 61 misnumbered as 50, f. 80 misnumbered as 78. *** FIRST EDITION; others appeared at Toledo, 1617 and Madrid, 1625. (The 1517 edition is a ghost, no doubt deriving from a typo: see Ticknor Catalogue.) The Spanish discoveries in the New World are discussed on ff. 61 [misnumbered 50]-72: "De la grandeza y potencia del reyno de España en si, y sus partes, y en lo que comprender su grande monarchia con el descubrimiento, y conquesta de las Indias, y Nuevo Mundo y como España toda es un solo reyno."This interesting work by Lopez de Madera, Philip II's crown attorney at Granada, also contains historical records of the kings of Spain beginning with Alaric, the first Gothic king, as well as discussions of antiquities, heraldry, the spread of Catholicism in Spain, and practical and abstract principles of government.The majority of copies, but not all copies, contain an additional 4 unnumbered preliminary leaves [A1-4], between quires ¶4 and a8, consisting of a "Prologo" [A1-A2 recto], "Indice de los Capitulos deste lib" [A2 recto-A2 verso], and "Cathologo de los Autores …" [A2 verso-A4 verso].*** Alcocer y Martinez 369: calling for 14 preliminary leaves, 84 ff. [the index is said to consist of 10 unnumbered preliminary leaves; our copy contains an index, complete, consisting of 8 unnumbered preliminary leaves]; cf. 51: locating a copy with imprint date "1517" at the Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid. Catálogo colectivo L1203: without mention of a "1517" edition [the online CCPBE calls for 16 preliminary leaves, giving the collation by signatures as ¶4, A4, a8, A-K8, L4]. Alden & Landis 597/43. Palau 141348: calling for 16, 84 ll. Salvá 3005 [calling for 16 preliminary ll.]. Heredia 3109 [the Salvá copy]. Ticknor Catalogue p. 207 [with 16 unnumbered preliminary leaves]: "The edition of 1517, mentioned by Antonio, has no existence, the date being a mere misprint for 1597." Not in Almirante, which cites only the 1624-25 edition. Not in Adams. Not in Sabin or Vindel. Not in HSA or JFB (1994). Not in Academia das Ciências de Lisboa, Livros quinhentistas espanhóis. According to Josiah, the JCB copy collates the same as ours. KVK (51 databases searched): Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München; Universitätsbibliothek Erlangen-Nürnberg, Hauptbibliothek; Österreichische Nationalbibliothek; Nationale bibliotheek van Nederland; Universität Wien; Union Catalog of Austria online resource; Biblioteca nazionale centrale-Roma; Det Kongelige Bibliotek, Denmark; EROMM (internet resource); British Library; Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal; Bibliothèque Saint Geneviève, Bibliothèque Mazarine; Biblioteca Nacional de España. NUC: NN, NNH, CU, MH, TxU, RPJCB, NcD, PU.