Bibliothecae Historicae Libri Quindecim - 1559 ex. Borghese Bibliotheque Library Book. Henri Etienne, Geneve 1559. Hardcover book bound in period vellum binding with ink lettering on spine. 847 pages. Preface in Latin by Ulrich Fugger, who was at the time protector of Henri Etienne. Text in Greek by Diodorus of Sicily. Diodorus' work contains numerous historical facts which aren't found in any other work by an author from Antiquity and would otherwise have been lost without him. A first edition of1539 contained only books 16 through 20 which were at the time believed to be the only ones surviving. A beautifully printed and impressive volume, in the tradition of the magnificent Greek folios printed by Robert Etienne in Paris. In good condition with some scattered foxing and some wear to the original vellum binding. There is a small piece cutout from the very first page. Measures 13.3 inches by 9 inches. One of several early books and manuscripts from a collection of rare early Latin and Italain vellum books, including incunabula (1478) from the Borghese Palace library in Rome.

Provenance: Prince Camillo Borghese, 6th Prince of Sulmona (1775-1832), married to Pauline Bonaparte in 1803. Remained in Borghese estate until 1892. Prince Paolo Borghese, 9th Prince of Sulmona (1845-1920) was forced to sell the contents of the Borghese Bibliotheque and Borghese Palace apartment, grounds and property to the state due to the financial crash of the Bank of Italy in 1891. The collection of manuscripts and several paintings being offering were purchased by Bradford deWolf at the renowned Borghese Bibliotheque and Palace sale in 1892.

The collection was later inherited by Dorothy 'Doda' deWolf of Washington, DC. She was born Princess Dorota Drucka Lubecka, the daughter of Countess Hegwige Opersdorff and Prince Francis Xavier Drucki Lubecki, a member of one of the oldest princely families of Europe. When the family's ancestral estate in Baltow, Poland was occupied by the Nazis at the beginning of World War II and later taken by the Russians, they fled to Paris, and in 1952, emigrated to the United States. Princess Dorota, known simply as 'Doda,' found employment in Wisconsin as an au pair, and later moved to Washington, DC where she worked for Elizabeth Arden. She eventually embarked on a very successful, 30-year real estate career at Begg - now Long & Foster - winning numerous awards in her field, as well as remaining very active in Polish affairs, including spearheading a Polish Cultural Center in Washington.

In 1960, Doda married Francis Colt deWolf, Jr., known as 'Colt,' and for 34 years, Doda and Colt deWolf were a prominent couple in Washington Society, known for their constant hospitality and infectious vitality. Colt was a direct descendent of Chris Colt, a wealthy textile industrialist whose brother, Sam Colt, invented the Colt 45 revolver. Chris Colt's grandson, Bradford deWolf, was a purchaser at the great sales of the contents of the Borghese Palace, which took place in Italy in the 1890s. The property that Bradford deWolf purchased from the Borghese Palace passed down to his son, Francis Colt deWolf, I, who came to Washington in 1922 to work for the State Department as one of the first heads of the newly created Communications Department. The deWolfs, with their impressive Borghese furniture, moved into the largest private residence in Georgetown, the Bodisco House. Colt and Doda deWolf inherited these historic objects.