FERNANDEZ FERREIRA, Diego. Arte da caça da altaneria. Lisbon: Jorge Rodriguez, 1616.

The only early Portuguese hawking treatise. “Very rare” (Schwerdt). The Cosens-Schwerdt-Mindlin copy. Diego Fernandez (or Fernandes) Ferreira was a Portuguese falconer and his book largely follows the structure of the famous Libro de la caza de las aves (1385-86) by Pedro López de Ayala. It was translated into Spanish by Juan Bautista de Morales in 1625. Harting, Bibliotheca Accipitraria 262 (“The only Portuguese work on the subject which has come to light after long search, and inquiries made through friends resident in Portugal”); Biblioteca de Salvá 2621(“el antefrontis grabado, por estar tirado suelto, suele faltar en los puoquisimos ejemplares que se encuentran de esta obra”); Schwerdt I, p. 171; Souhart 184 (“fort rare”).

Small quarto (195 x 125mm). Woodcut initials (lacking engraved additional title but with a woodcut additional title with arms within architectural border unmentioned in bibliographies; mild toning and a few spots). Red morocco by Riviere , spine gilt-lettered, all edges gilt (tips rubbed). Provenance: Frederick W. Cosens, sherry importer, 1819-1889 (engraved bookplate) – C.F.G.R. Schwerdt, 1862-1939 (engraved bookplate) – João Marinho (bookplate) – José Mindlin, 1914-2010 (bookplate).