Theocritus and Dioscorides

THEOCRITUS. Ειδυλλια; Theognis; Dionysius Cato: Disticha [translated into Greek by Maximus Planudes]; Sententiae Septem sapientium; De invidia; Hesiodus: Opera et dies, Theogonia. Venice: Aldus Manutius, February 1495/96, 140 leaves, Α.A-Δ.D⁸ Ε.E.-Θ.G.⁶; ΑΑ.αα-ΔΔ.δδ⁸ ΕΕ.εε⁶ ΖΖ.ζζ¹⁰; α.a-β.b⁸ γ.c¹⁰; δ.d-ε.e⁸, 30 lines, Greek type, woodcut initials and headpieces, quire ΖΖ.ζζ bound before ΑΑ.αα, a few small inkstains on last leaf

DIOSCORIDES. De material medica. Pseudo-Dioscorides: De venenis, De venenatis animalibus [Greek]. Venice: Aldus Manutius, July 1499, 136 leaves, *⁶ α-ο⁸ π¹⁰, 40 lines plus headline, Greek type, 5- to 7-line initial spaces, early annotations in Latin and Greek, small repair to foredge of first leaf



2 works in one volume, Super-Chancery folio (313 x 210mm.), seventeenth-century (Italian?) limp vellum, slight damp-stain in upper margin throughout, upper hinge splitting

Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun, inscription "AFletcher" at head of first leaf of each work; the Property of the Trustees of the Robinson Trust, sale, Sotheby's, 28 November 1977, lot 5170, sold for £900 to Alan G. Thomas

Andrew Fletcher (1655-1716), of Saltoun (Scotland), politician and book collector, formed one of the most impressive libraries of the time [Willems, Bibliotheca Fletcheriana (1999), p.76 and 217]. For another book from his library, see lot 15.

Theocritus: Goff T144; HC 15477; BMC v 554; BSB-Ink T-148; Bod-inc T-078; GW M45831; Renouard 5/3; Texas 7; UCLA 7

Dioscorides: Goff D260; HC 6257; BMC v 560; BSB-Ink D-183; Bod-inc D-103; GW 8435; Klebs 343.1; Renouard 21/4; Texas 28; UCLA 31 (all containing all three parts)

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 DIOSCORIDES, the pharmacological text which was later adapted by Mattioli in the mid-sixteenth century to become a popular illustrated herbal. This text was originally issued together with two works by Nicander and the scholia on them, which are not present in this copy.

In the dedication of the Theocritus to Battista Guarino, Aldus states 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 has the misprinted text: on Ζ.F5 the text after line 13 is contains a duplication of the text which appeared on E.E2a (as detailed in BMC; Ζ.F1_6 and 2_5 were then reset with the missing text replaced). Also, this copy does not contain the goblet-shaped woodcut on Θ.G6r.