- 243
Theocritus
Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Theocritus
- Ειδυλλια; Theognis; Dionysius Cato: Disticha [translated into Greek by Maximus Planudes]; Sententiae Septem sapientium; De invidia; Hesiodus: Opera et dies, Theogonia. Venice: Aldus, February 1495/96
- Paper
Super-Chancery folio (324 x 205mm.), 140 leaves, A.A-Δ.D8 E.E.-Θ.G.6; AA.αα-ΔΔ.δδ8 ΕΕ.εε6 ΖΖ.ζζ10; α.a-β.b8 γ.c10; δ.d-ε.e8, quire ΖΖ.ζζ bound before quire AA.αα, 30 lines, Greek type, woodcut initials and headpieces, nineteenth-century calf over wooden boards retaining sides of original Italian blind-tooled morocco binding with ropework decoration, some edges uncut, early and neat parallel Latin manuscript translation in the margin of the poems by Pythagoras and Phocylides, boards detached, spine chipped, extremities rubbed
Literature
Goff T144; HC 15477; BMC v 554-555; Bod-inc T-078; GW M45831; Renouard 1495:3; Texas 7; UCLA 7
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
A large crisp copy. In the dedication to Battista Guarino, Aldus mentions that he was taught in Ferrara by Guarino, and indeed mentions that Guarino had wanted him to produce an edition of Hesiod's Theogonia for his students; although Theocritus's Idylls had been previously issued in Milan in 1480 by Bonus Accursius, this volume contains the editio princeps of Theogonia.
This copy is set differently from lot 244: Z.F1 has different woodcut headpieces (one is inverted), and the text is stretched over three more lines. On Z.F5 the text after line 13 is contains a duplication of the text which appeared on E.E.2a (as detailed in BMC). Z.F.1_6 and 2_5 were then reset, and the second copy of Theocritus in this sale (see next lot) contains the reset pages with the missing text replaced. Quire Q.G6 is also completely different in these two copies; this copy does not contain the goblet-shaped woodcut, but the second copy does (likewise copy IB. 24408 in the British Library, BMC v 555).