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Bindings for “Alex. Rha.” (Alexios Rhartouros?)
This decorative scheme is seen on about forty bindings executed by the Mendoza Binder, and is designated by Anthony Hobson as the “simple style” of the Mendoza Binder’s “trade bindings”.1 Most have no owner’s name on the upper cover; four are lettered with the name “D. Piero” (Hobson nos. 90, 92, 94-95), four with the initials G.S. (nos. 66, 80, 82, 98), two with the name of Schenk Eberhard XIV, Graf zu Erbach (nos. 74, 85; see our Notabilia, [link]), one with the initials N.G and C.G. (no. 93), and another with the initials HI. C. (no. 81).
Chris Coppens proposed that the lettering “Alex. Rha.” might signify Alexios Rhartouros (Rhaturus, Rartouros, Rarturo), a priest and self-described chartophylax (archivist or librarian) of Cyprus, who was born about 1504 and died in 1574.2 Alexios made his first visit to Italy in 1539-1540, when he led a mission of the Corfiot clergy to Rome, and afterwards travelled to Venice, at his own expense, for uncertain purposes and for an uncertain period (we find him again in Corfu on 19 August 1541).3 In Rome, Alexios had associated with humanists, notably Giovanni Gaddi, in whose house in June 1540 he copied a Greek manuscript.4 He presumably forged similar relationships in Venice, and perhaps worked anonymously as a copyist, independently, or in an organised scriptorium.
The Mendoza Binder had a close relationship with the local Greek community, particularly with some Corfiot scholars who had fled to Venice after the Turkish siege of 1537, and become dealers in ancient Greek codexes, or involved in the thriving trade of producing transcripts of Greek manuscripts. Prominent among these refugees were Antonios Eparchos, who became a supplier of manuscripts to Hurtado de Mendoza, and Andronicus Nucius, who in 1541 joined the team of scribes working for Hurtado de Mendoza. The Mendoza Binder built upon these relationships and became the principal binder in Venice of Greek manuscripts, executing more than 100 such bindings for Hurtado de Mendoza and other customers, more than any other Venetian binder.5
Hobson believed that from the mid-1530s onwards, the Mendoza Binder was wholly occupied with commissions from major collectors like Hurtado de Mendoza and Johann Jakob Fugger, and had ceased to produce standard “trade bindings” for the book-buying public. He records very few such bindings on books printed after 1534, the latest one a Venetian book printed in 1543 (no. 99).6 If “Alex. Rha.” is indeed Alexios Rhartouros, then the nine, uniformly decorated bindings might have been specially made for him ca 1539-1541 in a spirit of friendship. Alexios returned to Venice in 1545-1546, and for a third time, in 1559-1561, by which date, however, the Mendoza Binder was no longer working.
1. Anthony Hobson, Renaissance book collecting: Jean Grolier and Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, their books and bindings (Cambridge 1999), pp.244-250 (Appendix 5: Bindings by the Mendoza Binder (Andrea di Lorenzo), nos. 63-99). Hobson was aware of four bindings for “Alex. Rhav.” (nos. 67, 70, 87-88).
2. Christopher Coppens, “Recensies: Boekgeschiedenis” [review of Mirjam M. Foot, The Henry Davis Gift, A collection of bookbindings, Volume 3: A catalogue of South-European bindings, London: The British Library; New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll, 2010] in De Gulden Passer 88 (2010), pp.171-174.
3. Katerína Ph. Zarídi, Αλέξιος Ραρτούρος: ένας Κερκυραίος λόγιος και Πρωτοπαπάς του 16ου αι [Alexios Rartouros: a Corfiot scholar and Protopapas of the 16th Century], PhD thesis, University of Ioannina, 1991, pp.81-82 (translation: “It was obviously his first trip there for which, apart from the fact that he made it at his own expense, there is no other information. This trip would take place during the time that elapsed from June 9, 1540, when copying the codex Parisinus Gr. 2412, until August 19, 1541, when we find him again in Corfu. How long he stayed in Venice, with whom he came in contact and what was the purpose of this trip, are facts that the sources do not reveal to us. However, it must be considered certain that Alexios, until the sponsorship given to him by the Holy Order was ratified, had to spend his own money to cover the expenses of his trip to Italy.”) [link].
4. “Anonymi commentarius in Ptolemæi tetrabiblon; Porphyrii introductio ad Ptolemæi apotelesmaticam”, now Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des manuscrits, Grec 2412. The colophon is dated 9 June 1540. Ernst Gamillscheg & Dieter Harlfinger, Repertorium der griechischen Kopisten, 800-1600, 2. Frankreich. A: Verzeichnis der Kopisten (Vienna 1989), p.30 no. 15 (as “Alexios (Priester),” the only Ms associated with him).
5. See Hobson, op. cit., Appendix 5, p.250.
6. Viaggi fatti da Vinetia, alla Tana, in Persia, in India, et in Costantinopoli: con la descrittione particolare di città, luoghi, siti, costumi, et della porta del gran Turco (Venice: Heirs of Aldo Manuzio, 1543), in Chantilly, Musée Condé, Bibliothèque, VIII-B-009. No name or initials are lettered on the upper cover; previous owners of the copy were Paul Heinrich Buroner (1701-1750) and Armand-Bernard Cigongne (1790-1859).
bindings for alex. rha. (rhav.)
(1) Aristoteles, Habentur hoc volumine haec Theodoro Gaza interprete. Aristotelis De natura animalium, lib. IX (Venice: Aldo Manuzio & Andrea Torresano, 1513)
provenance
● possibly Alexios Rhartouros (1504-1574), upper cover lettered “Aristotelis De Anima” at head and “Alex. Rhav.” below (with Ω above the LE and H)
● Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, S.Q.D.VIII.1
literature
Federico Macchi, “La Scuola di Alta formazione in Filologia moderna e alcune legature della Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana” in La Bibliofilía 114 (2012), pp.273-282 (p.274 fig. 1)
(2) Aulus Gellius, Auli Gellii Noctium Atticarum libri vndeuiginti (Venice: Heirs of Aldo Manuzio & Andrea Torresano, September 1515)
provenance
● possibly Alexios Rhartouros (1504-1574), upper cover lettered “A. Gellivs” at head and “Alex. Rha.” below (with Ω above the LE and H)
● Payne & Foss, 1819. A catalogue of books now selling (London 1819), item 9305 (“£3 13s 6d; Very fine copy, in the original black morocco binding, with the words Alex. Rha. on the side”) [link]
● George John Warren, 5th Baron Vernon (1803-1866)
● Robert Stayner Holford (1808-1892)
● Lt Col. Sir George Lindsay Holford (1860-1926)
● Sotheby & Co., Catalogue of extremely choice & valuable books principally from continental presses, and in superb morocco bindings, forming part of the collections removed from Dorchester House, Park Lane, the property of Lt.-Col. Sir George Holford, K.C.V.O. (deceased), London, 5-9 December 1927, lot 321 (“Vernon copy”)
● unidentified owner - bought in sale (£22)
● Sotheby & Co., Catalogue of valuable printed books, illuminated and other manuscripts, London, 27-28 April 1931, lot 108 (“original Aldine binding of black morocco, panel on sides of gold and blind tooled lines, an ivy leaf in each interior angle and a sex-foil at each corner, lettered inside panel on upper cover ‘A. Gellius.’ ‘Alex. Rha.’ back divided into eight panels by alternate small and large raised bands, tooled in gold and blind, the Vernon copy”) [link, sold among “Other Properties”]
● Barber - bought in sale (£16)
● Sotheby & Co., Catalogue of valuable illuminated manuscripts including a very important manuscript by the “Maître aux Boquetaux”, mid-14th century; fine Horae; and Adalbert’s Vita S. Simperti; also printed books, London, 16-17 December 1940, lot 58 (“original binding of black morocco, single fillet gilt panel on sides, corner fleurons and rosettes, lettered A. Gellius and Alex Rha on upper cover; the Holford copy”) [lots 24-60 sold as “Other Properties”]
● Hughes - bought in sale (£11)
● G. Michelmore & Co., London
● Sotheby & Co., Catalogue of the valuable stock of printed books, autograph letters and manuscripts of Messrs. G. Michelmore and Co., 5 Royal Opera Arcade, London, 13-14 June 1955, lot 2 (“contemporary Venetian black morocco, borders formed by quadruple fillets in blind, panels composed of single gilt fillets flanked by quadruple fillets in blind, gilt oak-leaves and rosettes at the inner and outer corners of the panels respectively, the upper cover lettered ‘A. Gellius’ at the top-and ‘Alex. Rha.’ at the bottom, panelled back tooled in gilt and blind, blue edges”)
● Bernard Quaritch, London - bought in sale (£30)
● Henry Davis (1897-1977)
● London, British Library, Henry Davis Gift 730
literature
Hobson, op. cit., no. 70
Mirjam Foot, The Henry Davis Gift: A Collection of bookbindings, Volume 3: A Catalogue of South-European bindings (London 2010), no. 261
(3-5) Marcus Tullius Cicero, M. T. Ciceronis De philosophia [in 3 volumes] (Venice: Heirs of Aldo I Manuzio & Andrea Torresano, 1523)
provenance
● possibly Alexios Rhartouros (1504-1574), upper covers lettered “Alex. Rha.” (with Ω above the LE and HA)
● Milan, Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Biblioteca, A. vii. 11/1-3
literature
Hobson, op. cit., no. 87
(6) Titus Livius, Titi Liuii Patauini Decadum XIIII epitomae. Lucius Florus [volume 4 of the five-volume 1520-1521 Livius] (Venice: Heirs of Aldo Manuzio & Andrea Torresano, December 1520)
provenance
● possibly Alexios Rhartouros (1504-1574), upper cover lettered “T.L.P. Lib. Epito.” at head and “Alex. Rha.” below (with Ω above the LE and H)
● Giorgio Pittaluga (?)
● Christie’s Roma, Libri, autografi e stampe, Rome, 15 June 1999, lot 431 (“tracce di un ex libris rimosso, letterine di guida per iniziali miniate mai eseguite … (strappo che non lede la parte stampata alla carta ee, macchia sul margine inferiore della carta rrrr.) splendida legatura in marocchino coeva, decorata in oro, sui piatti una cornice di un filetto con fiori agli angoli esterni e foglioline d’edera a quelli interni, decorazione impressa a secco con motivi geometrici in corrispondenza dei nervi, dorso decorato a secco (difetti al dorso). bell’esemplare fresco e marginoso.”) [realised Lire 14,500,000 ($8285) against estimate Lire 3,000,000-5,000,000]
● Guido Bortolani Libri Rari, Modena
(7) Christophe de Longueil, Christophori Longolii Orationes duae pro defensione sua in crimen lesae maiestatis (Florence: Heirs of Filippo Giunta, 1524)
provenance
● possibly Alexios Rhartouros (1504-1574), upper cover lettered “Orationes Longo.” At head and “Alex. Rhav.” below (with Ω above the LE and HA)
● “Frater Camillus Olivarius, censor of the Congregation of the Holy Office (title inscription recording that he has seen, corrected and approved the text)” (Christie’s)
● Fiammetta Soave, Rome
● Christie Manson & Woods, The Michel Wittock collection. Part I, Important Renaissance bookbindings, London, 7 July 2004, lot 72 [link]
● unidentified owner - bought in sale (£6572)
literature
Hobson, op. cit., no. 88
Federico & Livio Macchi, Atlante della legatura italiana: Il Rinascimento (XV-XVI secolo) (Milan 2007), pp.190-191 Tav. 72 (“eseguita dal ‘Mendoza binder’ verso il 1530 … nel censimento di 374 esemplari di questo legatore, comparso nella Appendice 5 … si contano 38 legature di questo tipo, elencate nel gruppo: ‘stile semplice’, le ‘trade bindings’ o legature commerciali … Collezione privata”)
(8) Niccolò Perotti, In hoc volumine habentur haec. Cornucopiae, siue linguae latinae commentarij diligentissime recogniti (Venice: Heirs of Aldus Manutius & Andreas Torresanus, May 1517)
provenance
● possibly Alexios Rhartouros (1504-1574), upper cover lettered “Cornvcopiae” at head and “Alex. Rhav.” below (with Ω above the LE and H)
● unidentified owner, inscription “Nacque Barbara Virginia mia figliuola et della Mag.ca S.ra Drusilla Boldona, nell’anno di nostra salute 1580 alli 10 di Settembre… e fu battizzata in Sta. Babilla Mendone, stato compadre L.M.S.re Giovanni Augostino Litta, Marchese di Gambalo alli [date missing] di sudetto mese” on last leaf [Giovanni Agostino Litta, 1st Marchese di Gambolò; Basilica di San Babila, Milan?]
● unidentified owner, inscription “Acquisto del C. Giovanni 1791” on endpaper
● Sotheby & Co., Catalogue of valuable printed books, London, 27-28 July 1955, lot 20 (“contemporary Venetian black morocco, panels formed by multiple fillets (one gilt, the rest in blind), with gilt rosettes and oak-leaves at the outer and inner corners respectively, the title of the work and the original owner’s name Alex. Rhav. stamped in gilt on the upper cover, repaired”) [lots 1-35 offered as “The Property of a Collector”]
● Horace G. Commin, Bournemouth - bought in sale (£14)
● Georges Heilbrun, Paris; their Catalogue 21: Livres anciens (Paris [1963]), item 9 (FF 950); Catalogue 37: Livres anciens: Incunables: Livres illustrés du 15e au 18e siècle: Classiques grecs et latins. Belles Lettres: Sciences et techniques. Amateurs célèbres: Editions aldines 1497-1592 (Paris [1972]), item 224 (FF 1500; interpreted as “Alexander Rhavennas”)
● T. Kimball Brooker, purchased from the above, 1973 [Bibliotheca Brookeriana #0232; to be offered by Sotheby's in 2024]
literature
Hobson, op. cit., no. 67
(9) Giovanni Gioviano Pontano, Opera omnia, pars I (Venice: Heirs of Also I Manuzio & Andrea Torresano, June 1518)
provenance
● possibly Alexios Rhartouros (1504-1574), upper cover lettered “Pontani I. Partis” and “Alex. Rhav.”
● “Bauserii Ioseph 24” (opac)
● Libreria antiquaria T. De Marinis & C., Catalogue 12: Manuscrits, incunables et livres rares (Florence 1913), item 259 [link]
● Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Stamp.De.Marinis.84(1) (opac “A carta *1r ad inchiostro bruno: ‘Bauserii Ioseph 24’; “Legatura in piena pelle su piatti di cartone, recante cornici a secco e in oro, rosette, foglie, indicazione di autore, volume e iniziali ‘Alex. Rhav.’ in oro. - Dorso diviso in quattro compartimenti, recanti decorazioni a secco. - Sul taglio di piede titolo, autore e data ad inchiostro bruno. - Taglio di testa e laterale di colore blu. - [1] carta di guardia anteriore e posteriore”) [link]
literature
Tammaro De Marinis, La Legatura artistica in Italia nei secoli XV e XVI (Florence 1960), no. 1757