[EQUIDIA]MADER, Joannes Melchior. Equestria, or Two Books on - Lot 146

[EQUIDIA]MADER, Joannes Melchior. Equestria, or Two Books on the Art of Riding, dedicated to Joan. Antonius, L. B. of Eggenberg, Georg. Bernardus, Ursenpeckh, and L. B. Wolf. Engelbrechtum, L.B. in Auerspeg. Joan. Udaltricum, from Ernau, &c. A very rare first edition of this curious little treatise on the art of horsemanship. Segoduni [Nuremberg?], Simon Halbmeyer, 1621. In-8, paperback (192 x 156 mm), unbound, in a sturdy cardboard slipcase. 32 ff (collation: A-H4), typographical borders on all pages, woodcut vignette on the title page, florets, and initials. In Latin. One stain on folio 4, very slight foxing on the margins, restoration of a small tear in the lower margin of folio 7. Extremely rare first and only edition of this curious treatise on horsemanship, divided into two parts: one devoted to “Equestria,” or the art of riding with flair, and the other to “Hippika” and all matters pertaining to the horse. The work opens with a very long dedication to four nobles from Austria and Bavaria: Johann Anton von Eggenberg (1610–1649), the only son of a high councilor of the Holy Roman Empire, Georg Bernard von Ursenpeck (1551–1624), Wolfgang Engelbrecht von Auersperg (1610–1673), and Johann Udalric von Ernauu. This satirical edition is the work of the famous Nuremberg printer Simon Halbmayer, who chose a fictional Roman city, “Segoduni,” as the place of publication. Johann Melchior Mader (c. 1593–?) is believed to have been from Waiblingen near Stuttgart. He is known for his work on the Arabic language. From the library of the German chemist Waldemar Schwalbe (1882–1943), with his attractive silhouette bookplate dated 1937 mounted on the sturdy cardboard cover. In fine condition.