Aesopus

folio (280 x 178mm.), small woodcut Aldine device on title-page, larger framed woodcut device on final verso, nineteenth-century brown crushed morocco by Bedford, tooled in gilt in period style, gilt edges, some early annotations (washed), title-page slightly soiled with small repaired tear, small section of upper corner of first few leaves repaired, joints weak

Crawford, pencil inscription on flyleaf, i.e. Alexander William Lindsay (1812-1880), 25th earl of Crawford and Balcarres, sale, Sotheby's, 13 June 1887, lot 9, £8-15-0 to Jones; Henry Harris, sale, Sotheby's, 30 October 1950, lot 58, £22 to Maggs; Charles Clive Bigham (1872-1956), 2nd Viscount Mersey, Bignor Park, label on inside front cover and pencil inscription "Mersey 1952" on flyleaf, stating bought from Maggs in 1950; Christie's, sale, 24 June 1992, lot 264; Librairie Thomas-Scheler, Paris, label on inside lower cover

Aldo Manuzio tipografo 95; Censimento 16 CNCE 334; Renouard 49/6; Texas 84; UCLA 93

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."

Aesop's Fables had previously been printed in Greek in 1498, by a consortium of four Venetian printers including the editor, Gabriel di Brisighella, who had previously collaborated with Aldus on his 1497 Aristotle volume; their only other publication was a Phalaris in Greek (18 June 1498). The disappearance of Gabriel and his colleagues from the Venetian printing scene is attributed to a dispute over privileges. The Greek text had first appeared in Milan in 1481, printed by Bonus Accursius. Some of the supplementary texts appear here for the first time.

The first few quires contain text in Greek and Latin, which were printed on separate sheets that were designed to be interleaved, with the Greek text facing the Latin and vice versa.