Cicero, De philosophia, Venice, Paolo Manuzio, 1541, contemporary morocco gilt with portrait of Cicero

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. M. Tullii Ciceronis De philosophia prima pars [part 2:] De philosophia volumen secundum [part 3:] Scholia Pauli Manutii: quibus Ciceronis philosophia partim corrigitur partim explanatur… Venice: Paolo Manuzio, 1541

A similar corner swirl is seen on Davis Gift 283, a medallion binding made in Venice or Padua in the 1530s, and Davis Gift 338, an Aldine Cicero of 1561.

2 parts in one volume, 8vo (159 x 92 mm). Italic type, 30 lines plus headline. collation: *⁴ a-z⁸ A-H⁸ I⁴: 256 leaves; A¹⁰ b-z⁸ [2]A-C⁸ [3]A-D⁸: 242 leaves. Woodcut Aldine device on title-pages and final versos. (Ink stain on second title, some marginal worming at end.)

binding: Contemporary Italian black morocco gilt (162 x 109 mm), sides paneled in gilt and blind, front cover with title lettered within a double circle PHILOSOPHIA M T CICERONIS, the rear cover with central gilt portrait bust of Cicero, gilt spirals in corners, spine in five compartments with four raised bands, later red morocco lettering piece. (Slightly worn and rubbed.)

provenance: "Alexandri cividalii et suorum amicorum", early inscription on flyleaf and extensive marginalia and underlining — Marmaduke Dawnay, bookplate — Gilhofer and Ranschburg, Vienna, shelflabel — E.P. Goldschmidt, morocco booklabel — Ketterer Kunst, Hamburg, 21-22 May 2007, lot 33. acquisition: Purchased at preceding sale via Robin Halwas. references: UCLA 298; Edit16 12250; Renouard 122/4-5