Vergil, Opera Vergiliana, Lyon, 1517, later half calf

Vergilius Maro, Publius

Opera Vergiliana docte et familiariter exposita (Aeneis Vergiliana cum... commentariis). (Lyon: Jacques Sacon for Cyriacus Hochperg, 20 August and 2 December 1517)

2 parts in one volume, folio (311 x 208mm.), titles printed in red and black within a woodcut border, woodcut initials and illustrations, with blank leaf cc6, nineteenth-century half calf, lacking 9 leaves (part 1: +2 and +5-6, part 2: O1, S5, Z5-7 and RR1), title-page slightly soiled and repaired with slight loss on verso, +8 repaired at foot, cut close at head, a few marginal tears and repairs, last few leaves stained and repaired, joints cracked, spine chipped; sold not subject to return

The numerous woodcuts were originally used for the Grüninger Strassburg edition of 1502, edited by Sebastian Brant, whose verse address to the reader appears here on the verso of the title-page. The text was prepared by Jodocus Badius Ascensius, and was first published in this form in Paris in 1500-1501.

LITERATURE:

von Gültlingen, Sacon 169; Mortimer, Harvard French 537; USTC 144785 & 144674

PROVENANCE:

Arthure Dade, 1 February 1575; John Woodhouse, 1615; Edward Bragge, inscriptions on title-page