- 201
Homer
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description
- Winslow Homer
- Opera [Greek, edited by Demetrius Chalcondylas]. Florence: [Printer of Vergilius (C 6061), possibly Bartolommeo di Libri] for Bernardus and Nerius Nerlius and Demetrius Damilas, [not before 13 January 1488/89]
- Paper
2 volumes, Median folio (320 x 222mm.; 303 x 198mm.), 439 leaves (of 440, without final blank), A-D8 E10; A-Z ET [con] [rum]8; AA-ZZ8 2ET6, 39 lines, Greek type, 2- to 10-line initial spaces (a few in Odyssey supplied in later manuscript), some annotations in Greek, nineteenth-century panelled crimson morocco gilt by Riviere, spine gilt in compartments, gilt edges, the Odyssey a shorter copy, the Iliad pressed and washed, a few small wormholes at beginning and end of the Iliad, N3, N6 and [rum]6 damaged and repaired with some loss of text, some marginal paper repairs (particularly on VV7-8), stains on HH5-6
Literature
Goff H300; HCR 8772; BMC vi 678; Bod-inc H-136; GW 12895
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
Editio princeps of the works of Homer, comprising the Iliad, Odyssey, the Homeric Hymns and the Batrachomyomachia, together with lives of Homer by Plutarch, Herodotus and Cassio Dio.
The type used was that of Demetrius Damilas, a Cretan scribe who had also been involved in the printing of books in Greek in Milan from 1476 onwards (and indeed the first Greek involved in the printing of Greek), and the printing was funded by the philhelline Florentine scholars Bernardo and Neri Nerli, students of Chalcondylas. Chalcondylas had taught at the influential Florentine Studio from 1475 to 1491. It is probable that this was the first Greek book to be printed in Florence.
The Greek text of Homer was not republished until Aldus's octavo edition in 1514 (for the Aldine reprint of 1517-24, see lot 202).