$9,500
Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Auction: September 23, 2020 11:00:00 AM EDT
Venice: Aldus Manutius, March-April, 1499. Edited by Marcus Musurus. 4to (215 x 152 mm). Two parts in one (bound in reverse order, beginning with Part II). Part II: "Epistolae". 136 (of 138) leaves, lacking leaves sigma3-4. Collation: alpha-epsilon8, zeta-eta6, theta-rho8, sigma6. 26 lines, single column, printed catchwords. Roman type (colophon, title, prelims: 2:114R, text: 7:114Gr). Illuminated initials, other initials printed in red and blue; printed and MS foliation in top margin. Part I: "Epistolae diversorum philosophorum, oratorum...". 258 (of 266) leaves, lacking gamma8 at rear. Collation: alpha-epsilon12, digamma12, zeta-eta8, theta10, iota-tau8, 2tau6, upsilon-omega8, Alpha-Beta8, Delta4; leaf 85 blank. 25 lines, single column, printed catchwords. Type same as above. Illuminated initials, other initials printed in red and blue. Bound in ca. fifteenth century antiphonal leaf with large illuminated "D", titled in Greek in gilt on spine, recased, front board fore-edge worn, top front joint worn, some wear to spine ends, scattered soiling; title in MS on fore-edge of text; endpapers renewed; two unidentified coats of arms painted on title-page of part II, ownership signature of Maria de Candia on same in purple ink; repair in bottom gutter of leaf 86 in first part, bottom edges of leaves 87, 89, 91, 92, and 93 lightly worn in same. ISTC ie00064000; Goff E64; BMC V 560; GW 9367; OCLC 1156331812 (Boston Public Library). Aldus Manutius (ca. 1449-1515) was an Italian humanist, scholar, founder of the Aldine Press, and is considered the greatest printer of sixteenth century Venice. He is perhaps most famous for his innovative use of typefaces, particularly his invention of italic type. He was also the first to print many Greek and Latin classics, and is remembered for his smaller and more affordable volumes, often considered the predecessor of the modern paperback. First edition of a collection of letters by 35 authors, including Plato, Aristotle, Diogenes, Isocrates and Aeschines.