SENECA, LAS OBRAS, SEVILLE, MEINARDUS UNGUT AND STANISLAUS POLONUS, 28 MAY 1491, CONTEMPORARY HALF CALF

Chancery folio (299 x 210mm.), 129 leaves (of 132), a-f8.8.6 g-m8.6 n-o8 p6 q-s8, 52 lines of commentary plus headline, gothic type, 4- to 7-line woodcut initials, first heading and initial printed in red, woodcut printer's device beneath colophon, some early annotations, contemporary blind-stamped half calf over wooden boards, two clasps, lacking r8 (supplied in facsimile) and blank leaves g8 and s8, many leaves slightly repaired at foredge and lower corner, r1 restored at foredge, s6 restored at lower corner, rebacked with new straps

Alonso de Aguilera, manuscript notes

Goff S374; HC 14596; BMC x 38; Bod-inc S-150; Palau 307667

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."

FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST TRANSLATION OF SENECA INTO CASTILIAN. The translator, Alfonso de Cartagena (1384-1456), was the son of Paul of Burgos, a Jewish convert to Christianity, and Alfonso became bishop of Burgos on the death of his father. He was a renowned humanist scholar and also translated Cicero into Castilian. This is an early production from the press of Ungut and Polonus, who moved from Naples (where they may have worked with Matthias Moravus) to Spain by royal command and continued printing together up to 1499. For a later imprint by Polonus, see lot 151.

There is a long manuscript note on k6v, "En la villa de Archilla [north-east of Madrid] yo Alonso de Aguilera...", dated 1575 and signed by Alonso de Aguilera, and another shorter note by him on s5v, along with accounts recorded on the flyleaves at front and back of the volume.