In three books, each having their own separate title page; the second book begins a new pagination sequence, continuous with that of the third book. The first book is a general discussion of emblems; the second and third books contain 50 emblems each (numbered I-L). Each of the 100 emblems begins on the recto of a leaf. The woodcut illustration (often incorporating a motto) is placed within a decorative border that encloses the 8-line verse epigram as well. It is followed by explication in prose beginning on the verso of the leaf. Each page of explication is enclosed in a double line border that contains citations and topic headings in the outer margin.

Author's woodcut arms on the title page (repeated on b8v, n6r, the separate title pages of the second and third books and the recto of last leaf); initials.

Errata on page 1.

Numerous errors in foliation; e.g., leaf 204 (fourth set) is numbered incorrectly as 104.

Includes indices.

"Thomas Stainton Jan. 25 1872" inscribed on the title page, above a second unread inscription in a different hand.

Lacking c3-c6, G4-G5 and Hh8.

McGeary & Nash. Emblem books at the University of Illinois, H46

Praz, M. Emblem-books (2nd. ed.), p. 374