Lucretius Carus, De rerum natura libri sex, Lyon, 1546, French polychrome binding
Auction Closed
December 10, 04:10 PM GMT
Estimate
1,200 - 1,800 GBP
We may charge or debit your saved payment method subject to the terms set out in our Conditions of Business for Buyers.
Read more.Lot Details
Description
LUCRETIUS CARUS, TITUS. Titi Lucretii cari poetae, ac philosophi vetustiss. De rerum natura libri sex. Lyon: Sébastien Gryphe, 1546
A small format edition of Lucretius' poetical treatment of the Epicurean doctrine, in a fine contemporary French binding; the verso of the final blank contains an early modern presentation inscription from "B.D." to "F.C." (as yet unidentified), alongside a three-line manuscript quotation in terza rima from the Genoese poet Antonio Fregoso's "Riso di Democrito e pianto di Eraclito", at the start of the second chapter:
O, ver che sii de angelica natura
o, pur mortal nol so, ma il divo aspetto
mostra che sei celeste creatura
16mo (123 x 69 mm). Italic type: 29 lines plus headline. collation: a-r8 s4: 140 leaves. Title-page with woodcut device, ruled in red throughout. (Some spotting).
binding: French polychrome binding (127 x 76 mm), 1550s, brown calf covers with outer frame formed by 2 gilt fillets, enamelled white, inner frame of interlaced lozenge, enamelled grey, and rectangle with exedrae, enamelled black, gilt star or quatrefoil in each exedra, in centre small lozenge enameled green containing a gold star and with azured stirrup finials enamelled white and green with gilt fillet extensions terminate in open leaves enamelled green at the outer border, edges gilt, housed in green morocco pull-off slipcase. (Very skilfully rebacked).
provenance: Early modern presentation inscription from "B.D." to "F.C.", alongside 3-line quotation — Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, 6 December 1977, lot 20. acquisition: Purchased in 1997 from David L. O'Neal, New Ipswich. references: USTC 149567; von Gültlingen V: Gryphe 943
You May Also Like
