Scriptores Historiae Augustae

8vo (160 x 87mm.), woodcut Aldine device on title-page and final verso (otherwise blank), text in italics, ruled in red, with blank leaves oo8 and D4, nineteenth-century brown morocco gilt by Zaehnsdorf, with a black morocco gilt border and central Aldine device in gilt, spine gilt in compartments with black morocco onlays, gilt edges

Sir Edward Sullivan, bookplate, sale, Sotheby's, 19 May 1890, lot 199 ("in case", no longer present), £2-2s, to Ridler; William O'Brien, bequest booklabel dated 1899

Cataldi Palau 48; Censimento 16 CNCE 17204; Renouard 87/8; Texas 165; UCLA 181

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."

A charming copy of the Scriptores Historiae Augustae, a collection of writings on the Roman emperors of the second and third centuries, reprinted from the 1516 Aldine edition, also edited by Gian Battista Egnazio, who took over responsibility for the editorial programme on the death of Aldus. The dedicatee, Jacques de Minut, was a colleague of Jean Grolier's in the French administration of Milan.

This copy contains uncensored the supposed speech of Heliogabalus to the meretrices, which was often excised.