BLONDUS, HISTORIARUM AB INCLINATIONE ROMANORUM IMPERII DECADES, VENICE, 1484, LATER MARBLED CALF

Chancery folio (278 x 192mm.), 301 leaves (of 302, without initial blank), a–g8 h10 i–u8 x10 A8 B14 C–I AA–DD8 EE-FF10, 55 lines plus headline, roman type, 4- to 8-line initials in red (a few supplied later in black ink), early annotations in different hands (some cropped), eighteenth-century Italian marbled calf, flat spine gilt, red edges, cut close at head, inscription erased from foot of a2, a few marginal paper repairs, occasional light foxing, small stain on A2, BB1 with small hole in text from acidic ink and with a repaired tear in gutter, binding slightly rubbed

Charles Maria Kaufmann of Frankfurt, bookplate and inscription dated Rome

Goff B699; HC 3249; BMC v 317; BSB-Ink B-552; Bod-inc B-355; GW 4420 (Blondus) & M33466 (Pius)

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."

Second edition of Blondus's history from the fall of the western Roman Empire to his own day (the middle of the fifteenth century), first printed in 1483. Pius II felt the work was too lengthy and lacking in style, and himself wrote a summarised version of it; this was the version used by Platina for his Lives of the Popes and by Machiavelli for his Florentine History. Pius's summary was printed before the original, though it is included in this edition.