This was the title of a section of the 13th May sale dedicated to an extraordinary selection of books and manuscripts on heraldry, a theme of the greatest importance for those who research into genealogy, coats of arms and historical roots of noble families. The selection contained many of the treaties which elevated heraldry studies to the state of high dignity, so that they are now considered as an auxiliary science for History, for the invaluable support they provide to archaeology, local history, numismatics, codicology, art history and bibliography. Gathered from different private collections, the section contained more than 200 lots and was one of the largest ever offered on the Italian market. It contained armorials, works about the aristocracy and military orders - from the Garter to the Knights of Malta – as well as treaties of blazonry from the 16th to the 20th Century.

Some of the highlight included the first and only edition of the Nobleza de Andaluzia by Gonzalo de Molina printed in Seville in 1588 with 123 handcoloured coats of arms (sold for 8,125 Euros), the rare first edition of the Catalogue des chevaliers de l’ordre du collier de Savoye by François Capré of 1654 (6,250 Euros) and the Atlas historique by Henri Abraham Chatelain from the collection of the great bibliophile Jean Baptiste Colbert (22,500 Euros). A magnificent illuminated manuscript, produced at the end of the 16th century for the Court of Navarra with “plateresque”-style Spanish binding, realised the interesting amount of 5,750 Euros.
Most of the books of the section were devoted to Italian works, among which a rare copy of the most famous and sought-after work about the heraldry ever produced in Bologna, the Blasone bolognese, cioè Arme gentilizie di famiglie bolognesi, nobili, cittadinesche, which Floriano Canetoli printed between 1791 and 1795, with numerous hand-coloured illustrations, that sold for 4,000 Euros + fees. Another monumental work, the Famiglie celebri italiane by Pompeo Litta, estimated at 5,000 Euros, sold for 11,300 Euros.

Given the great success for both scholars and collectors of the May auction, Aste Bolaffi is pleased to announce that a new section dedicated to heraldry books will be included in the December sale. It will feature more works on the subject such as the Storia genealogica di Casa Savoia by Litta estimated 2,000 Euros, two works by Luigi Cibrario, the 1845 Descrizione storica degli ordini religiosi and the 1846 Descrizione storica degli ordini cavallereschi with a starting price of 500 Euros, and the 8 volumes of the Teatro araldico by Leone Tettoni and Francesco Saladini, estimated 1,500 Euros.

By Cristiano Collari