- 285
Psalterium
Estimate
8,000 - 10,000 GBP
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Description
- Ψαλτηριον [edited by Justinus Decadyus]. Venice: Aldus, [not after 1 October 1498]
- Paper
Super-Chancery 4to (207 x 142mm.), 149 leaves (of 150), α-θ8 ι6; κ-ν ο-υ8, without the first line of text at the head of ι1r (supplied in manuscript), 20 lines, Greek type, printed in red and black throughout, woodcut initials and borders (α3 and κ1 with full borders), nineteenth-century navy morocco gilt by Hering, spine gilt in compartments, gilt edges, lacking final leaf with colophon, first 14 leaves repaired in upper margin with some text supplied in manuscript, first few leaves foxed, other light foxing
Provenance
Joseph Poirot, notarius publicus Caesareus, stamp on title-page (he also owned the 1478 Milan Aesop); Alexander I Beresford Hope (1820-1887), bookplate, sale, Sotheby's, 24 March 1882, lot 360, £1-10s ("sold not subject to collation"), to Stibbs; William O'Brien, bequest booklabel dated 1899, with his bibliographical notes on verso of flyleaf
Literature
Goff P1033; HCR 13452; BMC v 563; BSB-Ink P-850; Bod-inc P-493; GW M36248; Grosjean & O'Connell 96; Sander 5944; Renouard 260/8; Texas 8; UCLA 29
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
This is the third appearance of the Greek Psalter in print, after the 1481 Milan and Venice 1486 editions. The preface, by the Corfiote Decadyus, is addressed to Greeks living in Venice, Greece and elsewhere, and he mentions Aldus's project to produce a trilingual Old Testament, of which only a trial sheet was ever produced.
The dating is provided by the inclusion of this edition in Aldus's list of books for sale of 1 October 1498, priced at 4 marcelli.