Poliziano, Angelo Ambrogini, called

Super-Royal folio (307 x 190mm.), 450  leaves (of 452), a-p⁸ q r¹⁰ s t⁸ A-I⁸ K⁴ L-P⁸ Q R¹⁰ S⁸ T¹⁰ V⁶ X Y¹⁰ Z⁸ &¹⁰ aa¹⁰ iteru[m] aa iteru[m] bb⁸ bb-hh⁸ ii⁶ kk¹⁰, 38 lines plus headline, Greek and roman letter, initials and paragraph marks in blue and red, annotations in a sixteenth-century hand (Ludwig Baer?), eighteenth-century French green morocco gilt (possibly by Derome), spine gilt in compartments, red morocco lettering-pieces, gilt edges, lacking aa4-aa5, some worming, occasional slight spotting, binding slightly scuffed, lower joint very slightly cracked

Ludwig Baer, inscription dated 1502 on title-page; extract from a sale catalogue pasted to inside front cover, describing this copy "as clean as the day it was printed" and attributing the binding to Derome; "domus Sti Antonii --?", added to catalogue in 1780, inscription on title-page;  William Nansom Lettsom (1796-1865, the textual scholar who published works on Shakespeare), inscription on verso of flyleaf dated 4 December 1821; Lord Monson, typed label pasted to inside lower cover

Ludwig Baer (or Ludovicus Ursinus, 1479-1554) was Professor of Theology and rector of the university at Basel until 1529 when, on the election of the reform party, he moved to Freiburg. Erasmus praised Baer for his ability to exercise his academic duties as a theologian "without the slightest hostility towards classical and biblical scholarship" (ed. Bietenholz, Contemporaries of Erasmus, vol. I, p.86).

Goff P886; H 13218; BMC v 559; Bod-inc P-422; Renouard 1498:4; UCLA 23; Texas 22; Marciana 25

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."

First edition of Poliziano's works: this fine copy belonged to Ludwig Baer, a friend of Erasmus.

Poliziano (1454-1494) was tutor to the sons of Lorenzo de' Medici before becoming chair of Latin and Greek at the Florentine Studio, and was renowned for his mastery of the Greek language. He had begun preparing his letters for publication himself, a task completed after his death by the Bolognese humanist Sarti.

The first use of Hebrew type by Aldus appears on H8.