Chapter 2

3. ISIDORUS HISPALENSIS. Etymologiarum libri XX. [Strassburg, Johann Mentelin, c. 1473.]

Fol. 1, blank.Fol. 2a: INCIPIT EPISTOLA ISIDORI IVNIORIS HISPALENSIS EPISCOPI AD BRAVLIONEM CESARAVGVSTANVM EPISCOPVM. [Three other letters to the same and two replies; tabula generalis.]Fol. 3b, col. 2: INCIPIVNT CAPITVLA PRIMI LIBRI. INCIPIT LIBER PRIMVS ETHIMOLOGIARVM ISIDORI HISPALENSIS EPISCOPI. DE DISCIPLINA ET ARTE.Fol. 27b, col. 1: INCIPIVNT CAPITVLA LIBRI QVARTI.Fol. 27b, col. 2: PREFACIO. [D]Omino et filio syseputo ysidorus..... INCIPIT LIBER YSIDORI DE RERVM NATVRA AD SISEPVTVM REGEM.Fol. 37a, col. 2: INCIPIVNT CAPITVLA LIBRI QVARTI. INCIPIT LIBER QVARTVS DE MEDICINA.Fol. 142a,Colophon: EXPLICIT LIBER ETHIMOLOGIARVM ISIDORI HISPALENSIS EPISCOPI.

Folio. Quires [1-1310, 1412], 142 leaves, the first blank, 2 columns, 51 lines to the column, without signatures, catchwords, pagination, printer's name, place or date. Gothic lower-case type, roman capitals. Book and chapter headings printed wholly in majuscules. Large woodcut diagrams. Three-to nine-line spaces left for chapter and book initials, also spaces for occasional Greek words (mostly left unsupplied) and for small diagrams. Two pinholes, which in Mentelin's use point to a date not later than 1473. Hain *9270. Brit. Mus. 15th cent., I, p. 57 (IC. 586). Burger pl. 170.

On the first page large illuminated initial with floral border ornament, and similar initials at the head of the several books. Chapter initials supplied in red or blue; initial-strokes in red throughout the volume. Blank first leaf wanting.

Incorporated with the present edition of the Etymologiae by way of supplement, though not named in the table of contents, is an earlier treatise of Isidore's entitledDe natura rerum, written at the request of Sisebut, king of the Visigoths, 612-621, and dedicated to him. It contains the sum of the physical philosophy of his time, and, being largely astronomical, is sometimes found in the MSS. under the titleLiber de astronomia. In order to bring it into immediate connection with the corresponding section of the Etymologiae, it is placed immediately after the third book (devoted to thequadrivium, the last division of which is astronomy) and given irregularly the heading "Liber quartus," the regularLiber quartus (De medicina)beginning twenty pages later. Two of the 48 chapters of which it is composed are wanting here, but by the subdivision of other chapters thenumber is raised to 58. Zainer of Augsburg, the printer of the first edition of the Etymologiae, dated 19 November, 1472, followed it the next month with an edition ofDe responsione mundi et astrorum ordinatione ad Sesibutum regem, which is the work in question under another title. Printed with the same type and the same number of lines to the page, it was in effect treated as a supplement to the Etymologiae.

According to the testimony of a fellow printer, de Lignamine, in the "Chronica summorum Pontificum," Rome, 1474, Mentelin as early as 1458 was printing at Strassburg 300 sheets a day. The third Latin Bible (1460-1461) and the first German Bible came from his press, but the first work to which he affixed his name and a date was theSpeculum historialeof Vincent of Beauvais in 1473. He died in 1478.

The Wodhull copy, bought at "Hayes's sale" in 1794 for £5.5s., and bound in russia gilt, with Wodhull arms on side, by Mrs. Weir for £1.2s. Leaf 153/4× 11 in.

4. GESTA ROMANORUM. [Cologne, Ulrich Zell, c. 1473.]

Fol. 1, blank.Fol. 2a: Ex gestis romanorumhystorie notabiles: de vitijs virtutibusquetractantes: cumapplicacionibusmoralizatis et misticis: Incipiunt feliciter.Fol. 160b, col. 1,Colophon: Ex gestis romanorumcumpluribus applicatis historijs: de virtutibuset vitijs mistice ad intellectum transsumptis Recollectorij finis est feliciter. LAVS. DEO.Fol. 160b, col. 2: Incipiunt tituli numerorum omnium capitulorumet exemplorum.Fol. 163a: Tabula omnium exemplorumetcapitulorumoperis præcedentis. secundum ordinemalphabeti.Fol. 170a: Explicit tabula.Fol. 170b, blank.

Folio. 170 leaves in seventeen quires of ten leaves each, 2 columns, 36 lines to the column, gothic letter, without signatures, catchwords, pagination, place, printer's name or date. Two- to five-line spaces left for capitals. One pinhole in side margin, others possibly cut away in binding. Hain 7734, Pellechet 5247. Brit. Mus. 15th cent., I, p. 196 (IB. 2994).

On fol. 2aand 163afive-line initials in blue with graceful pen decoration in red. Initials of chapters and morals supplied in alternate red and blue. Paragraph-marks and initial-strokes in red; headings underlined in red. Blank first leaf wanting.

This edition of the Gesta contains 181 chapters and appears to have been preceded only by another undated edition printed at Utrecht by Ketelaer and Leempt, in long lines, with 152 chapters and no index.

Ulrich Zell was the first printer of Cologne. His first dated book was issued in 1466 and he continued to print quite up to the close of the fifteenth century. Nearly all his books are, like the present, without place, date or printer's name. Of the 177 books which he is known to have printed, the British Museum possesses 123.

The Wodhull copy, bound in russia, gilt edges. Leaf 103/4× 71/2in. Mem. on fly-leaf: "Pateson's Auction. £5.5s; washing, cleaning, mending and binding by Roger Payne £1.2s.6d. M. Wodhull, May 25th, 1786."

5. GREGORIUS I. Homiliæ XL super Evangeliis. [Augsburg, Günther Zainer.] 28 August, 1473.

Fol. 1a: Ordo .xl. omeliarumbeati gregorij pape ad secundinumepiscopum Thauronitarum.Fol. 1b: SEQVITVR EPISTOLA [R]Euerendissimo et sanctissimo frati secundino coepiscopo. Gregoriusseruus seruorumdei.Fol. 2a: EXPLICIT EPISTOLA INCIPIT EWANGELIVM. S. LVCAM.... Omelia prima beati Gregorij pape.Fol. 141b,Colophon: Adeptus est finis ambarumparciumomeliarumbeatissimi gregorii pape vrbis rome jn die sancti hermetis sub Anno domini M cccc lxxiij.Fol. 142a:Table of the homilies in the order of the liturgical year.

Folio. Quires [1-1310, 1412], 142 leaves, 33 lines to the page, gothic letter, without signatures, catchwords, pagination, place or printer's name. Two- and three-line spaces left for capitals, which are supplied in red. Paragraph-marks and initial-strokes in red. Hain *7948, Pellechet 5366. Brit. Mus. 15th cent., II, p. 319 (IB. 5457).

Gregory's Homilies, of which this is the first edition, and the three next following works bound with it, are from the press of Günther Zainer, of Reutlingen, the first printer of Augsburg. All are in the same type, the heavy-faced gothic of his second font, are rubricated by the same hand, and though two of them are undated, were all evidently printed at about the same time. He was the first printer in Germany to make use of roman type, of which the earliest example seems to have been his "Calendarium pro anno 1472." He died in 1478, ten years after the appearance of his first dated book.

The Wodhull copy, bound by Roger Payne in russia gilt. Leaf 12 × 81/4in. Mem. on fly-leaf: "Payne's sale. £2.12.6, binding and restoring 17s.6d. These four pieces were taken out of old monastic binding. M. Wodhull, Jan. 5th, 1795."

6. PSALTERIUM LATINUM. [Augsburg, Günther Zainer, c. 1473.]

Fol. 1a: Prologus beati jeronimi presbiteri in psalteriumquod ipse de hebraico transtulit in latinum[E]Vsebius jeronimussoffronio suo salutem.Fol. 1b: Explicit prologus beati jeronimi. Incipit psalterium Psalmos dauid primus.Fol. 51a: CanticumYsaie capitulo lxxij (sic),followed by cantica of Hezekiah, Hannah, Moses (2), Habakkuk.Fol. 54a,Colophon: Explicit translacio soliloquiorumsiue psalterij beatissimi Ieronimi eusebii presbiteriquod ad peticionemsoffronij transtulit ut in epistolamante psalteriumimpressa praemittituretc.

Folio. Quires [1-510, 64], 54 leaves, 33 lines to the page, gothic letter, without signatures, catchwords, pagination, place, printer's name or date. Two- to four-line spaces left for initials, which are supplied in red. Paragraph-marks and initial-strokes in red. Hain *13470. Brit. Mus. 15th cent., II, p. 320 (IB. 5560).

Jerome's final translations of the Old Testament books direct from the Hebrew were all adopted into the received Latin version, the Vulgate, except this of the Psalms.Here his earlier revision of the old Italic version on the basis of the Septuagint had become so firmly established in liturgical use that the translation from the Hebrew, though more exact, could not displace it. This appears to be the first printed edition.

Bound with No. 5. Gregorii Homiliæ.

7. MODUS PERVENIENDI AD SUMMAM SAPIENTIAM. [Augsburg, Günther Zainer, c. 1473.]

Fol. 1a: [S]Entite de domino in bonitate etin simplicitate cordis quaerite illum.Fol. 2a: Explicit prologus Incipit modus ad summam perveniendi sapienciam.Fol. 24a, l. 33,End: sibi sparso diuinitusin ipsumardentissime se extenditetc.Fol. 24b, blank.

Folio. Quires [1-210, 34], 24 leaves, 33 lines to the page, gothic letter, without signatures, catchwords or pagination, place, printer's name or date. Two- to four-line spaces left for capitals, which are supplied in red. Initial-strokes in red. Hain *11490. Brit. Mus. 15th cent., II, p. 320 (IB. 5531).

Bound with No. 5. Gregorii Homiliae.

8. HUGO de SANCTO VICTORE. Soliloquium de arrha animae. [Augsburg, Günther Zainer.] 12 October, 1473.

Fol. 1a: Incipit soliloquium beatissimi Augustini episcopi yponensi (sic) de arra anime.Fol. 7b,End: Raptusest finis huiustractatusAugustini de arra anime. feria tercia post festumsancti Dyonisy Anno domini lxxiijetc.Fol. 8, blank.

Folio. 8 leaves, the last blank, 33 lines to the page, gothic letter, without place or printer's name. Three-line space for first initial and initial-strokes supplied in red. Blank last leaf wanting. Hain *2021. Pellechet 1525. Brit. Mus. 15th cent., p. 319 (IB. 5451).

The author of the work here directly ascribed to St. Augustine was the mystic theologian Hugo de Sancto Victore (1097-1140), member of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine and head of the abbey school of St. Victor, near Paris. From his familiarity with the writings ofAugustine and likeness to his spirit, he was styledAlter Augustinus, a title which furnishes a plausible but not wholly satisfactory explanation of the confusion in the present case. For among the spurious writings which have been put under Augustine's name more than one has been borrowed from this author. For example, chapters 5-10 of theLiber de diligendo Deoare taken almost word for word from the present treatise.

In the present edition of this soliloquy cast in the form of a dialogue the interlocutors areAugustinusandAnima(both names always printed in capitals); in a Strassburg edition of about the same date,Hugoandanima sua; in the collected edition of Hugo's works,homoandanima.

Bound with No. 5. Gregorii Homiliae.

9.CARACCIOLUS, Robertus, de Licio. Opus quadragesimale quod de poenitentia dictum est. Venetiis, Wendelinus de Spira, 20 July, 1472.

Fol. 1, blank.Fol. 2a: Hec est tabula omniumsermonumcontentorum hoc in uolumine.Fol. 3a: Sacre theologie magistri necnon sacri eloquij preconis celeberrimi fratris Roberti de Litio ordinis Minorumprofessoris opusquadragesimale perutilissimum quod de penitentia dictum est. Feliciter incipit.Fol. 267a,Colophon:

Vendelinus ego gentiscognomine spiere!Roberti haec caste purgata uolumina pressi!Sedis apostolice Romano praeside SixtoMagnanimoetuenetum Nicolao principe TrunoM.cccclxxij.xx.quintilis.

Fol. 267b, 268, blank.Fol. 269a: Sermo infesto annuntiationis uirginis marieeteiusdem Roberti cum tribus (sic) aliis sermonibussequentibus. s. de predestinato numerodamnatorumetde cathenis.Fol. 289b: Finis triumsermonumFratris Roberti...Fol. 290, blank.

Quarto. Quires [1-710, 812, 9-1110, 128, 13-1510, 168, 17-2710, 28-306, 314], 290 leaves, 1, 268, 290 blank, 40 lines to the page, gothic letter, withoutsignatures, catchwords or pagination. Two- to seven-line spaces with guide-letters left for initials. Two pinholes on side. Initials and paragraph-marks supplied in red. Blank leaf 268 wanting. Hain-Copinger 4424. Pellechet 3244. Proctor 3524.

Wendelin of Speier succeeded in 1470 to the press established in 1469 by his brother John, the first printer of Venice, who lived to complete only four books. Gothic type was introduced into Italy by Wendelin.

Roberto Caraccioli, born at Lecce in 1425, was bishop of his native city from 1484 to 1495. The great reputation which these sermons enjoyed is attested by the fact that four editions, three of them printed in Venice, appeared in 1472, and four more in 1473, one of which was Wendelin's second edition, an exact reprint of the present.

The Wodhull copy, bought at the sale of the library of Samuel Tyssen, in 1801, for £1.1s., bound in russia gilt, with Wodhull arms on side, at a further cost of 19 shillings. Leaf 101/8× 71/2in.

10.VALLA, Laurentius.Elegantiae linguae Latinae. Venetiis, Nicolaus Jenson, 1471.

Fol. 1a: LAVRENTII VALLENSIS ELegantiarumcompendiosæ collectionis in ordinem alphabeti directæ principium.Fol. 9a, blank.Fol. 9b: LAVRENTII VALLENSIS VIRI CLARISSIMI ET DE LINGVA LATINA BENE MERENTIS AD IOANNEM TORTELLIVM ARETINVM: CVI OPUS ELEGANTIARVM LINGVAE LATINAE DEDICAT EPISTOLA.Fol. 11a: LAVRENTII VALLENSIS PATRICII ROMANI COMMENTARIORVM GRAMMATICORVM SECVNDVM ELEGANTIAM LINGVAE LATINAE LIBER PRIMVS DE NOMINE VERBOQVE. ET EX HIS DVOBVS COMPOSITO PARTICIPIO INCTPIT PROOEMIVM.Fol. 159b: LAVRENTII VALLENSIS DE LANGVAE LATINAE ELEGANTIA TERTIVS LIBER FINIT: INCIPIT IIII. DE NOMINVMSIGNIFICATIONIBVS. [ForTERTIVSreadQVINTUS;forIIII. DE NOMINVM SIGNIFICATIONIBVSreadVI. DE NOTIS SCRIPTORVM.]Fol. 190a: LAVRENTII VALLENSIS DE LINGVAE LATINAE ELEGANTIA: ET DE EGO MEI TVI ET SVI AD IOANNEM TORTELLIVM ARETINVM LIBER INCIPIT.Fol. 200b,Colophon: LAVRENTII VALLENSIS DE LINGVAE LATINAE ELEGANTIA: ET DE EGO MEI TVI ET SVI AD IOANNEM TORTELLIVM ARETINVM PER ME M. NICOLAVM IENSON VENETIIS OPVS FELICITER IMPRESSVM EST. M.CCCCLXXI.Fol. 201, 202, blank.

Quarto. Quires [18, 212, 3-410, 512, 6-710, 812, 914, 10-1110, 1212, 138, 146, 15-1910, 208], 202 leaves, the last two blank, roman letter, 39 lines to the page, without signatures, catchwords or pagination. Two- to six-line spaces left for capitals and spaces also for Greek words, to be supplied in manuscript. Two pinholes on side. The type is Jenson's first font. Hain 15802. Proctor 4071.

At the head of the first page is a large initial of the interlaced vine pattern in gold and colors, with a border of the same pattern enclosing the entire page. The remaining five books, the prefatory epistle and the supplementDe ego, mei et suiare introduced by initials of the same size and style. Alternate red and blue capitals at the head of chapters, paragraph-marks also in red and blue.

A few of the spaces left for Greek words are filled in manuscript, but more are left vacant. When Jenson later in the same year printed Cicero's Letters, he was provided with Greek type. The blank fol. 9ais occupied by a transcript in an early hand of the greater part of lib. i, cap. iv (De ficu), from a MS. the readings of which differ materially from the printed text.

For the purposes of the index the six books have been divided into a continuous series of 479 chapters, designated in the margins of the text by manuscript roman numerals, but in the index by printed numerals. Thereferences are not, as in later editions, to book and chapter, but to chapters only. The index, alphabetized by the first letter of the word only, printed on different paper and forming a separate quire, is here placed at the beginning of the volume; but traces of earlier manuscript signatures still remaining, bear witness to a former order in which the text preceded the index, as is still the case in some copies of this edition.

Most of Jenson's early books were folios. But notwithstanding the size of the leaf (13 × 8 in.), this is a quarto, as both the direction of the chain-lines and the position of the water-mark prove. However, because of the limitations of the early presses, it was doubtless printed on half-sheets, folio-wise, two pages at most at one impression.

Of the twenty-four 15th-century editions of theElegantiaethe three earliest, one of which was Jenson's, were printed in 1471.

Although the tradition that Nicolas Jenson, master of the mint at Tours, was sent by Charles VII. in 1458 to Mainz to learn the secrets of the newly discovered art of printing is otherwise unsupported and, in view of the manner in which the invention was afterwards carried to France as well as to other countries by private initiative, improbable, he was already a master of the art, wherever and however acquired, when he established in 1470 the press which held the leading place at Venice until his death in 1480.

The present exceptionally fine copy of theElegantiae, bound in citron morocco, with gold borders and gilt edges, is the Wodhull copy, bought in 1786 of Payne for £10.10s.

11. PLINIUS SECUNDUS, C. Naturalis historia. Venetiis, Nicolaus Jenson, 1472.

Fol. 1, blank.Fol. 2a: CAIVS PLYNIVS MARCO SVO SALVTEM.Fol. 4a: CAII PLYNII SECVNDINATVRALIS HISTORIAE LIBER .I. CAIVS PLYNIVS SECVNDVS NOVOCOMENSIS DOMITIANO SVO SALVTEM. PRAEFATIO.Fol. 21a: CAII PLINII SECVNDI NATVRALIS HISTORIAE LIBER .II.Fol. 355a,Colophon: CAII PLYNII SECVNDI NATVRALIS HISTORIAE LIBRI TRICESIMI SEPTIMI ET VLTIMI FINIS IMPRESSI VENETIIS PER NICOLAVM IENSON GALLICVM .M.CCCC.LXXII. NICOLAO TRONO INCLYTO VENETIARVM DVCE.Followed by: Iohannis andreæ episcopi aleriensis ad pontificem summum Paulum secundum uenetum epistola.Fol. 356a: Hereneus lugdunensis episcopus: item Iustinus ex philosopho martyr: item cum diuo Hieronymo Eusebius cæsariensis: serio posteritatem adiurarunt: ut eorum descripturi opera conferrent diligenter exemplaria: et sollerti studio emendarent. Idem ego tum in cæteris libris omnibus tum maxime inPlynio ut fiat; uehementer obsecro: obtestor: atqueadiuro: ne ad priora menda:ettenebras inextricabiles tanti sudoris opus relabatur. Instauratumaliquantulumsub romano pontifice maximo Paulo secundo ueneto.Fol. 356b, blank.

Folio. Quires [112, 28, 3-810, 912, 10-1510, 168, 17-2710, 286, 29-3010, 31-358, 3612, 378], 356 leaves, first blank, 50 lines to the page, roman letter, without signatures, catchwords or pagination. Two- to twelve-line spaces left for capitals, with guide-letters; also spaces for occasional Greek words. Greek type sparingly used, oftener transliteration in roman. Two pinholes. Hain *13089. Proctor 4087. Morgan Cat. II, p. 39, n. 297.

The rubrication of the present copy is not only elaborate but also of unusual merit. The first of the twelve-line initials of the thirty-seven books is finely illuminated in gold and colors. The others, in the outlines of which grotesque features are occasionally introduced, are set off by skilful pen-work, harmonizing in general effect, but carefully avoiding repetition in details. The chapter initials also, a thousand or more in number, in alternate red and blue, or red and green, have much variety and grace. The initial L, for example, occurring twenty-eight times in the first book, is never repeated in the same formand color. The blank fol. 3bis occupied by the name Jesus in very large and ornate characters, in different colors, surrounded by scroll and figure decoration. The Bagneri arms, included in the ornamentation of the first initial, point to an early ownership of the volume, and the arms of the Antella family of Florence at the foot of the first page, to a later ownership.

The introductory epistle of the younger Pliny, describing his uncle's manner of life, was addressed to his friend Macer, who here becomes Marcus by the easy transposition of Macro to Marco. Less easily explained is the substitution in the dedication of Domitian for his brother Titus Vespasian, to whom Pliny dedicated the work.

Two editions of theNaturalis Historiapreceded this, the first printed by John of Speier in 1469, with a five years' privilege from the Venetian senate, which expired at his death in 1470, the second by Sweynheym and Pannartz, Rome, 1470. With the first of these, Jenson's edition agrees in the number of pages and of lines to the page. From the second he reprinted the letter addressed by the editor Johannes Andreas, Bishop of Aleria, to his patron Pope Paul II., and the earnest appeal for care on the part of any who should reprint his Pliny, "ne ad priora menda et tenebras inextricabiles tanti sudoris opus relabatur." Fifteen more editions were printed before the close of the 15th century. Jenson's Pliny is generally regarded as the finest production of his press. The type is his first font.

The Wodhull copy, bought of Thomas Payne, book-seller, in 1791 for £12.12s., and bound by Roger Payne in russia gilt, with Wodhull arms on side, at the additional cost of £1. Leaf 151/4× 101/4in.

12. NONIUS MARCELLUS. De compendiosa doctrina. Venetiis, Nicolaus Jenson, 1476.

Fol. 1, blank.Fol. 2-20, alphabetical index.Fol. 21, blank.Fol. 22a: NONII MARCELLI PERIPATETICITIBVRTICENSIS COMPENDIOSA DOCTRINA AD FILIVM DE PROPRIETATE SERMONVM.Fol. 194a,Colophon: NONII MARCELLI PERIPATETICI TIBVRTICENSIS COMPENDIOSA DOCTRINA AD FILIVM DE PROPRIETATE SERMONVM IMPRESSA VENETIIS INDVSTRIA ATQVE IMPENDIO NICOLAI IENSON GALLICI. .M.CCCC.LXXVI.Fol. 194b, blank.

Folio. Sign. a-c10, d-y8, z12, 194 leaves, 1 and 21 blank, 34 lines to the page, roman letter, without catchwords or pagination. Seven- and eight-line spaces left for capitals, some with guide-letters. The type is Jenson's first roman trimmed or recast the second time on a slightly smaller body. Greek words as a rule printed with Greek type, not transliterated. Hain 11901. Proctor 4098.

On the first page of text a large initial S in gold on a panel of color, with marginal decoration. Other large chapter initials in red and blue alternately. Numerous paragraph-marks in alternate red and blue. Blank first leaf wanting.

The index, which occupies the first nineteen leaves, is alphabetized as far as the second letter of the word. The references are by roman numerals to the leaves (not pages) of the work, which themselves have only manuscript foliation in arabic figures.

The first edition of Nonius was printed at Rome in 1470 by Lauer; the second, in 1471, was without place or name. Jenson's edition, which is the third, borrowed from both of these but added also something of value. The correct title,De compendiosa doctrina, first appears here. The usual title,De proprietate sermonum, belongs strictly to the first chapter. As in all the early editions, the third chapter is lacking, having been discovered later and first included in the 1513 edition of Aldus. Jenson's Greek type long remained in favor for incidental use in Latin books after it had been displaced in Greek books by Aldine types.

The Wodhull copy, "Payne's sale, £5.5s., January, 1792." Bound by Roger Payne in red morocco, gilt edges. Leaf 11 × 8 in.

13.DULLAERT, Johannes, de Janduno or Gandavo. Quaestiones super tres libros Aristotelis de anima. Venetiis, Franciscus de Hailbrun et Nicolaus de Franckfordia socii, 1473.

Fol. 1a, blank. 1b: Tabula questionumdomini Johannis de Janduno supertres libros de anima Aristotelis.Fol. 2a: [I]Nest enim mentibushominumVeri boni naturalis inserta cupiditas.Fol. 92b,Colophon: Expliciunt questiones domini Johannis de Janduno supertres libros de anima Aristotelisimpresse Venetijs perFranciscumde HailbrunetNicolaumde Franckfordia socios. M.CCCCLXXiii.

Folio. Quires [1-810, 912], 92 leaves, 2 columns, 71 lines to the column, gothic letter, without signatures, catchwords or pagination. Six- to twelve-line spaces left for capitals. Two pinholes. Arabic figures used to the exclusion of roman numerals not only in table of contents, but throughout the text to mark subdivisions of the argument or individual books of a treatise. Hain 7458. Burger pl. 99.

On first page of text a twenty-four line initial illuminated in gold and colors, with border ornament. Book and chapter initials in alternate red and blue. Arabic numerals, which made their first appearance in printed books in 1470, were very sparingly used even at a considerably later date than 1473.

The author, commonly known as Johannes de Gandavo (Ghent), of the early part of the 14th century, wrote commentaries also on other works of Aristotle. Of the present work five editions, of which this is the first, were printed at Venice in the 15th century.

Franz Renner of Heilbronn conducted a press at Venice from 1471 to 1483, having as partner from 1473 to 1477 Nicolas of Frankfort. The present volume is printed in a small round-faced gothic type, the second of the nine fonts which he used.

The Wodhull copy, bought at the Maffei Pinelli sale, London, 1789, for £1.13s. Bound in hf. vellum. Leaf 163/4× 111/2in.

14. ARISTOTELES. Libri de animalibus interprete Theodoro Gaza. Venetiis, Johannes de Colonia sociusque Johannes Manthen, 1476.

Fol. 1, blank.Fol. 2a: THEODORI: GEAECI: THESSALONICENSIS: PRAEFATIO: IN LIBROS: DE ANIMALIBVS: ARISTOTELIS: PHILOSOPHI: AD XYSTVM: QVARTVM: MAXIMVM.Fol. 7b: ARISTOTELIS: DE HISTORIA: ANIMALIVM: LIBER PRIMVS INTERPRETE THEODORO.Fol. 131a: ARISTOTELIS DE PARTIBVS ANIMALIVM LIBER PRIMVS INTERPRETE THEODORO.Fol. 184a: ARISTOTELIS DE GENERATIONE ANIMALIVM LIBER PRIMVS INTERPRETE THEODORO.Fol. 250b,Colophon: Finiunt libri de animalibus Aristotelis interprete Theodoro Gaze. V. clarissimo: quos Ludouicus podocatharus Cyprius ex Archetypo ipsius Theodori fideliteretdiligenter auscultauit:etformulis imprimi curauit Venetiis per Iohannem de Colonia sociumqueeius Iohannemmanthende Gherretzem. Anno domini .M.CCCC.LXXVI.Fol. 251a: Tabula cartarum secundum ordinem ponendarum.Fol. 251b, 252, blank.

Folio. Sign. a-b10, c-d8, e10, f8, g10, h8, i10, k8, l-t10, u8, x10, aa-dd10, ee8, ff6. 252 leaves, the first and the last blank, roman letter, 35 lines to the page, without pagination. Two- to seven-line spaces left for initials, with guide-letters. Hain *1699. Proctor 4312. Morgan Cat., II, p. 48, n. 313. Burger pl. 199.

The border surrounding the first page of text, and eighteen initials of the several books, are illuminated in gold and colors. Chapter initials supplied in red and blue alternately.

Printed signatures, which appear to have been first introduced by Zarotto of Milan in 1470, and a register of sheets, first used by John of Cologne in 1475, are both found in this volume. The register, which may give only the number of sheets in each of the quires, or thefirst word of each sheet of the quire, is here of the latter kind. Unfortunately two sheets escaped registration and the words are supplied in manuscript.

Three separate treatises of Aristotle are contained in this volume: Historia de animalibus libri ix; De partibus animalium libri iv; De generatione animalium libri v.

Theodore Gaza, the translator, was a learned Greek from Thessalonica, who took up his residence in Italy on the capture of his native city by the Turks. The translation was made at the instance of Nicolas V., who had invited him to Rome in 1450, but was first printed in the present edition (Venice, 1476) and dedicated in a flattering epistle of eleven pages to the reigning pope, Sixtus IV. The fifty scudi which the pope sent in acknowledgment of the dedication copy Gaza is said to have thrown in disgust into the Tiber. It is interesting to note in this connection that while the Venice editions of 1492 and 1498 retain the name of Sixtus IV. in the dedication, Aldus after having omitted the epistle altogether in his 1504 edition, in that of 1513 quietly substituted the name of Nicolas V., the earlier and worthier patron, without a word of change in the language of the dedication itself. Later editions have followed the example of Aldus.

John of Cologne, established as a printer at Venice as early as 1471, was associated 1472-1473 with Wendelin of Speier, whose business and types he took over in 1474. He had as partner, 1474-1480, John Manthen, and in 1480, Nicolas Jenson. The type of theAristotleis a close imitation of the first font of John and Wendelin of Speier.

The Wodhull copy, bought at the Pinelli sale for £2.12s.6d. Bound in hf. vellum. Leaf 12 × 81/4in.

15. UBERTINUS DE CASALI. Arbor vitae crucifixae Jesu. Venetiis, Andreas de Bonetis de Papia, 12 March, 1485.

Fol. 1, blank.Fol. 2a: INCIPIT PROLOGVS IN LIBRVM QVI INTITVLATVR ARBOR VITE CRVCIFIXE IESV. ET DICITVR OPVS VBERTINI DE CASALI. QVI FVIT FRATER PROFESSVS ORDINIS MINORVM BEATI FRANCISCI.Fol. 4a, col. 2: Explicit primus prologus. Incipit secundus.Fol. 5a, col. 2: Explicit prologus secundus. Incipit liber primus.Fol. 248b, col. 2,Colophon: Liber qui intitulatur Arbor uite crucifixe Iesu deuotissimi fratris Vbertini de Casali ordinis minorumfeliciterexplicit. Impressus Venetiis perAndreamde Bonettis de Papia. Anno .M.CCCC.LXXXV. Die.xii.Martii. Ioanne Mocenico inclyto principe regnante.Fol. 249a: Tabula capitulorum.Fol. 249b, col. 2: Registrum.Fol. 250, blank.

Folio. Sign. a-z8, A8, B12, C-G8, H6. 250 leaves, 1, 204, 250 blank, 2 columns and head-line, 58 lines to the column, roman letter. The head-lines give the subject, book and chapter numbers. Eight-line spaces left for the initials of the five books and three-line spaces, some with guide-letters, for the chapter initials, both supplied in red. Blank first and last leaves wanting. Hain *4551. Pellechet 3331. Proctor 4816.

Bound in olive green morocco with gold borders and gilt edges. Book-stamp of J. Richard, D.M., on first and last leaf of text, and book-plate of another owner, Jules Frayssenet, of Fleurance, printed on full leaf inserted between the fly-leaves, front and back, and the text. Leaf 101/4× 73/4in.

Andreas de Bonetis, of Pavia, printed at Venice from 1483 to 1487.

16.ALBERTIS, Leo Baptista de.De amoris remedio. 1471.

Fol. 1a: BATISTAE DE ALBERTIS POETAE LAVREATI OPVS PRAECLARVM IN AMORIS REMEDIO FELICITER INCIPIT.Fol. 20b,Colophon: BAPTISTAE DE ALBERTIS POETAE LAVREATI OPVS IN AMORIS REMEDIO VTILISSIMVM FELICITER FINIT. .M.CCCC.LXXI.

Quarto. Quires [18, 212], 20 leaves, 25 lines to the page, roman letter, without signatures, catchwords, pagination, place or printer's name. Two- tosix-line spaces left for initials, but the present copy is without rubrication. Hain *422. Panzer iii. 82, 69; iv. 5, 16. Pellechet 268. Proctor 7346.

Notwithstanding the Latin title, the work itself is wholly in Italian and both in the MSS. and in later printed editions is found also under the titleDeifira ossia del mal principiato amore. A companion volume by the same author, with the Latin titleDe amore liber, and the Italian,Ecatomfilea ossia del vero amore, was printed the same year, in the same type, the same number of leaves and lines to the page. Still another work in the same type and form and apparently of the same date, entitledHistorieta amorosa fra Leonora de' Bardi e Hippolito Bondelmonti, is attributed on good evidence to De Albertis. Copies of all three works, printed alike on vellum and bound together in one volume, formerly in the Mac-Carthy Collection (Catalogue, Paris, 1815, no. 3595), are now in the Bibliothèque Nationale (Vélins1964). In the present copy ofDe amoris remediothe manuscript signaturesbandc, partly cut away, point to an earlier binding, in which theHistorietaconsisting of only twelve leaves may possibly have formed the signaturea.

Panzer was disposed to identify the peculiar roman type of these volumes with that used by the fourth printer of Venice, Clemente of Padua, between whom and Zarotto of Milan, Hain was later in doubt. But Proctor was convinced that the small group of books to which these belong, nearly all of them connected in some way with Florence, were the productions of the first, so far unidentified, press of that city. The date they bear (1471) places them among the earliest books printed in the Italian language. Witness the following first editions: Petrarch's Canzoniere, 1470; Il Decamerone, 1471; La Divina Commedia, 1472.

The present copy, bound in blue morocco, with the crest of the Marquis of Blandford on side, was sold in his (White Knights) sale in 1819 for £2. Leaf 91/4× 63/4in.

From the Syston Park sale, December, 1884, with book-plate and the monogram (J.H.T.) of Sir John Hayford Thorold.

17. AESOPUS. Vita et fabulae græce. Vita et fabulae latine. Fabulae selectae græce et latine. [Milan], Bonus Accursius, c. 1480.

Part I.Fol. 1a: Bonus Accursius Pisanus doctissimo sapientissimo ducali quæstori Iohanni Francisco turriano salutem plurimam dicit.Fol. 2a: ἈΙΣΩΠΟΥ ΒΙΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΜΥΘΟΠΟΙΟΥ ΜΑΞΙΜΩ ΤΩ ΠΛΑΝΟΥΔΗ ΣΥΓΓΡΑΦΕΙΣ.Fol. 33a: ἈΙΣΩΠΟΥ ΜΥΘΟΙ.Fol. 70a: Τέλος τὣν τοὓ Ἀισώπου Μύθων.Part II.Fol. 1a: Vita Aesopi fabulatoris clarissimi e græco latina perRynucium facta ad ReuerendissimumPatremDominumAntonium tituli Sancti Chrysogoni PresbyterumCardinalemetprimo prohoemium.Fol. 32b: FINIS.Fol. 33a: Argumentum fabularumAesopi e græco inlatinum.Fol. 59b: Finis. Vita Aesopi per Rynucium thettalum traducta. Verum quoniam ab eo non nulla fuerunt praetetermissa (sic): fortassis quia græcus eius codex esset minus emendatus: Ego Bonus accursius Pisanus: eadem in ea omnia correxi;etemendaui.Fol. 60, blank.Part III.Fol. 1a, blank.Fol. 1b: Bonus Accursius Pisanus doctissimo ac sapientissimo ducali Quæstori Iohanni francisco Turriano salutem plurimam dicit.Fol. 2a, col. 1: ΜΥΘΟΙ ἈΙΣΩΠΟΥ,col. 2: Fabulae Aesopi.Fol. 38a, col. 1: ΤΕΛΟΣ ΤΩΝ ΤΟΥ ἈΙΣΩΠΟΥ ΜΥΘΩΝ.Col. 2: FINIS AESOPI FABVLARVM. Bonus Accursius pisanus impressit: qui non doctorum hominum sed rudium ac puerorum gratia hunc laborem suscepit.

Quarto. Pt. I, sign. [A-H8, I6] not printed, but stamped irregularly on the extreme lower margin and partially cut away in the binding, 70 leaves. Pt. II, sign, a-g8, and four unsigned leaves at the end, 60 leaves. Pt. III, sign. a-b8, C-D8, E6, 38 leaves, the Greek text and the word-for-word Latin translation in two parallel columns. Both the Greek and the Latin have 25 lines to the page or column. Two- to five-line spaces for capitals, with guide-letters, in both texts, but no rubrication. Two pinholes. Hain *265+272. Pellechet 185+192. Proctor, Printing of Greek in the 15th cent., p. 60.

This is the first printed edition of any of the Greek classics, and the third book printed entirely in Greek, or in Greek with a Latin translation; the first being the Grammar of Lascaris, Milan, 1476, and the second the Lexicon of Crastonus not later than 1478. All three were printed with the same font of Greek type made by, or under the supervision of, Demetrius Damilas, the son of Milanese parents settled in Crete. Bonus Accursius was rather the publisher than the actual printer, who in the case of the Lascaris was Dionysius Paravisinus, and in the case of the Crastonus and the Aesop, probably the brothers de Honate, who at that date were the possessors of the peculiar roman type used in the Latin translations. After the Aesop this particular font of Greek type next appeared in the first edition of Homer, printed at Florence in 1488 by Bartolommeo di Libri, and in three of his subsequent books, once at Rome early in the 16th century, after which it disappears altogether.

In the present edition the Fabulae græce number 147, the Fabulae latine 100, the Fabulae selectae 62. The translator, Rinuccio d'Arezzo, who dedicates his work to Cardinal Antonio Cerdano, tells him in closing that he sends all that have come into his hands, though probably not all that Aesop wrote, since while they stand in alphabetical order, some letters are wanting and others have not their full quota. Not all copies have all the three parts, nor are they always bound in the same order. The present copy, though in all respects complete, is bound irregularly, as follows: 1. Fabulae selectae. 2. Fabulae græce. 3. Vita Aesopi græce. 4. Vita et fabulae latine. On the verso of the last blank leaf is written in an early hand "olim fuitReverendissimimagistrigeorgii de casali."

Mr. Wodhull paid "Edwards" for this copy, in 1799, £14.14s. Bound by Mrs. Weir in green morocco extra, gilt edges. Leaf 9 × 6 in.

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