[Etymologicum Magnum], Mega etymologikon, Venice, Torresano, 1549, nineteenth-century brown diced calf

[Etymologicum Magnum]. [Greek]. Magnum etymologicum Graecae linguae, nunc recens summa adhibita diligentia excusum, & innumerabilibus pene dictionibus locupletatum ... Quas vt facilius cognoscere lector possit ab jis, qui graecis literis nauant operam. Venice: Federico Torresano, 1549

Second edition of this celebrated lexicon compiled between 1100 and 1250, originally published by Kallierges in 1499.

Median folio (327 x 210 mm). Greek and Roman type, 60 lines plus headline. collation: AA-TT⁸ VY¹⁰ Xφ-YX⁸: 178 leaves. Woodcut Aldine device on title-page and final verso, AA2 printed in red and black with engraved red headpiece, occasional early underlining. (Minor stray spots and smudging, inherent paper flaw at outer margin of NN6, minor worming at inner margin of II3-YX2.)

binding: Nineteenth-century diced brown calf (336 x 230 mm), covers with gilt border, spine in six compartments, second compartment with tan morocco lettering piece, others with repeat blind floral ornaments, red and blue speckled edges, marbled endpapers. (Upper hinge weak, rubbed at joints with upper joint slightly exposed, some damage at head and tail, a bit rubbed overall.)

provenance: Unidentified owner, early inscription “Nodell” on title-page — R.C. Abercrombie, inscription on flyleaf. acquisition: Purchased from Maggs Bros., London, 1973. references: UCLA 1036; Renouard 145/4; Edit16 39502; USTC 803354