- 209
Livius, Titus
Estimate
30,000 - 40,000 GBP
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Description
- Livius, Titus
- Historiae romanae decades [edited by Joannes Andreae, bishop of Aleria]. Venice: Vindelinus de Spira, 1470
- Paper
3 volumes, Royal folio (394 x 260mm.), 420 leaves (of 421, without initial blank leaf), [a-b12; c-l10 m10+1 n-p10 q-r8; s-z & aa-gg10; hh-kk10 ll-mm8 nn-rr10 ss14], 49 lines, roman type, first leaf of text of each volume with contemporary decoration of a large gold initial on blue, green and pink grounds with marginal decoration, at foot two wreaths containing St George (or his shield and the dragon) and the she-wolf with Romulus and Remus, other 2- to 8-line initials in gold on blue grounds, some with white vine stem decoration, rubricated in red and blue, two leaves containing contemporary manuscript notes at end of first volume, neat contemporary manuscript catchwords in volumes I and III, seventeenth-century vellum, spines gilt in compartments with morocco lettering-pieces, [a]4 repaired in lower margin, some small wormholes, small stain on cc7, vellum slightly bowed
Provenance
Benedictine monastery of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, alotted to it by the mother house of Santa Giustina, Padua, contemporary manuscript inscription in each volume (that at the back of volumes 2 and 3 partially erased), with their inventory numbers 418, 419 and 420, and the added decoration relating to St George (the monastery was suppressed in 1806); John Wyndham Bruce, armorial bookplate; William, 6th Baron Monson, armorial bookplate from the Burton Library
Literature
Goff L238; HC 10130; BMC v 154; Bod-inc L-116; GW M18494
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
A fine copy with beautiful decoration and a provenance connected to Livy's home town of Padua. This is one of two editions printed in 1470; the other was produced in Rome by Ulrich Han and edited by Giannantonio Campano. This text is taken from the editio princeps of 1469, printed by Sweynheym and Pannartz in Rome.
This edition contains the surviving first, third and fourth decades of Livy's monumental history, which had been brought together by Petrarch.