Zuñiga y Sotomayor, Fadrique de
Extraordinarily rare first edition of the most important 16th century Spanish work on Falconry: “perhaps the rarest of all Spanish books which relate exclusively to Falconry” (Harting).
Further images
8vo, (180 x 126 mm). 6 ff., 126 ff. Modern brown morocco by V. Arias with blind tooling, raised bands and gilt spine, leather pastedown with gilt tooling, all edges gilt. Early owner's inscriptions to title, top edge trimmed tightly, a few mostly marginal paper repairs affecting text on ff. 63, 64 and 122-126, a few marginal ink notations, light thumbing and scattered foxing.
The Libro de la Cetreria is the first –and only- edition of “perhaps the rarest of all Spanish books which relate exclusively to Falconry”(Harting), contains the Spanish names derived from the Arabic for different species of hawks; it deals with hawking, and in general of the prey birds, their cures and ways to caring for them, as such, an early work on veterinary of hawks in Spanish. The rarity is legendary, “libro muy raro” (Gutierrez de la Vega, 212).
Aside from Spanish publications, the Libro de Cetreria is one of the earliest printed books entirely dedicated to the art of hawking in any language.
[It] “is of interest as giving the Spanish names derived from the Arabs for different kinds of hawks-e.g., Alfaneque, Borni, Bahari, Sacre, Azort (Latin Astur, the Goshawk)” Harting.
The book occupies a significant place in the Castilian tradition of books on hawking, a genre which saw the production of several treatises, including that of Lopez de Ayala –possibly the most famous-, and such as Juan de Sahagun’s “Libro de Cetreria“ (known today in 15th century manuscript copies), the “Libro de Acetreria y Monteria” of Juan Valles, the “Libro de cetreria” of Luis de Zapata and the “Arte de caza de altaneria” of Diego Fernandes Ferreira. However, despite the rich heritage of works on the subject, it was Zúñiga y Sotomayor’s that saw the printing press for the first time, all the previous ones known only in manuscripts. It is divided in two parts; the first is devoted to the knowledge and hunting of prey birds, the second on their diseases and cures. It would not be printed again until 4 centuries later.
Harting, 238; Heredia 709 ‘Un des traités les plus rares sur la fauconnerie’ ; Salvá 2678 Souhart col 124; Jeanson 1584 ; Palau 197084.
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