Sophocles.

8vo (148 x 88mm.), Greek text, woodcut printer's device on final verso (otherwise blank), late eighteenth-century straight-grained red morocco, gilt fillet border, gilt edges, a few leaves slightly soiled, occasional light staining, binding slightly rubbed

Censimento 16 CNCE 36139; Renouard 1502/6; Texas 53; UCLA 48

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."

editio princeps of the plays of Sophocles, the standard text until the nineteenth century, and the first of Aldus's Greek texts to be produced in his new portable octavo format (and without the commentaries announced on the title-page); for another see his Euripides (lot 110), in the same small cursive Greek font and narrow median paper stock, resulting in an octavo of a more slender appearance. In his preface to Janus Lascaris, Aldus mentions in print for the first time his Greek Academy.

The title leaf (a1) seems to have been reset: there are capital letters at the start of the Greek titles of the plays, some of the text uses different Greek ligatures and the imposition of the dedicatory preface on the verso has been slightly altered. We have not been able to trace another copy with this variant leaf.