Tacitus, Publius Cornelius

folio (300 x 217mm.), woodcut papal arms on verso of colophon, eighteenth-century vellum, early annotations in a cursive hand plausibly by Benivieni (some shaved at edges), occasional light foxing, light staining in second half of volume, last ten leaves (containing Agricola) stained and repaired in gutter, joints splitting

"Laurentii Benivenii και τ[ων] φιλ[ων]", inscription on title-page. Lorenzo Benivieni (1495-1547), a Florentine, was the grand-nephew of the poet Girolamo Benivieni and the first consul of the Accademia Fiorentina founded by Cosimo I.

Censimento 16 CNCE 37770

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 THE COMPLETE WORKS OF TACITUS, including the first six books which had recently been located (though the incomplete books five and six have been conflated, resulting in a gap for the years 29-31 AD). Earlier editions had excluded these books (see lot 78 for the Germania from the c. 1471-1472 edition).

The source manuscript for the first six books of the Annals was a ninth-century manuscript made in Fulda and then in the library of the abbey of Corvey in Saxony ("quinque libri nuper in Germania inventi", N1v). It came into the possession of Leo X, who enabled Beroaldo to prepare the text for publication and provided a privilege to protect Beroaldo's work for ten years (though it was quickly reprinted in Milan in 1517). The manuscript was never returned to Corvey (the Pope sent them a copy of the printed text and an indulgence in compensation) and it is now in the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana in Florence.

On leaves N1v-2r the editor displays his concern for textual accuracy and reassures the reader that he has proof-read the text and provides a list of corrections which are marked at the appropriate place in the text with a marginal printed asterisk.