Herodianus

4to (199 x 135mm.), 64 leaves, a-e⁸; f-h⁸, 36 lines, roman type, 3- to 5-line initial spaces with printed guides, printed marginalia, eighteenth-century Harleian style red morocco gilt, spine gilt in compartments, gilt edges, upper joint starting to crack

Earl of Sunderland, removed from Blenheim Palace, without bookplate but with shelfmarks on flyleaf, sale, Puttick and Simpson, April 1882, lot 6089, £4-2-6, J. Rimell & Son; Sir Edward Sullivan (without his bookplate), sale, Sotheby's, 29 May 1890, lot 3070, £1-9s, to; William O'Brien, bequest booklabel dated 1899

Goff H87; HC 8468; BMC vi 834; BSB-Ink H-119; Bod-inc H-053; GW 12320; Grosjean & O'Connell 63

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."

Herodian's history of the Roman Empire after Marcus Aurelius (from 180 to 238AD) was written shortly after the events it describes; Herodian probably died in around 240. Poliziano's translation from the Greek was dedicated to Innocent VIII.

There were three incunabular editions of this translation, all published in 1493 between 20 June and 30 September 1493 (it also appears in Poliziano's complete works of 1498, see lot 280). This edition was reprinted from the 31 August 1493 Bologna folio edition by Franciscus Plato de Benedictis, though possibly in agreement with the earlier printer (see BMC vi, p. xxxvii). The first edition, printed in Rome, was not approved of by Poliziano, in particular because of the long list of errata at the end, and the omission of the printed marginalia. The two Bologna editions both include a prefatory letter from Poliziano to the Bolognese Andrea Magnanimo, indicating that Alessandro Sarti should help with the correction of the text.

Bazalerius de Bazaleriis, a native of Bologna, worked in Bologna from 1487 to 1495, before moving to Reggio Emilia.