Oribasius Sardianus | Collectorum medicinalium, Paris, Torresani, 1555, calf gilt

Oribasius Sardanius

Collectorum medicinalium, libri XVII, qui ex magno septuaginta librorum volumine ad nostram aetatem soli pervenerunt [edited by Giovanni Battista Rasario]. Paris: Bernardo Torresani, 1555

8vo (154 x 98mm.), woodcut Aldine device on title-page, woodcut initials and headpieces, contemporary calf gilt with small centrepiece of a pelican feeding its young, title lettered along foredge, lower corner of title-page repaired, a few small repairs to binding, joints weak

Oribasius, from Pergamon, was physician to the Emperor Julian. "He was one of the most important medical figures of the Byzantine period and was responsible for preserving the writings of many medical authorities of antiquity" (Eimas p.16).

Bernardo Torresani was the grandson of Andrea Torresani, and his printshop in Paris was active from 1554 to 1569, after which he returned to Venice. He maintained his connections with the family firm in Venice; Paolo Manuzio also printed an undated edition of Rasario's Oribasius. Rasario (1517-1578) was professor of Greek in Pavia (where he also studied medicine) and Venice, and translated and edited several classical medical texts.

LITERATURE:

Cataldi Palau 198; Eimas 46; Renouard 296/2; USTC 151705

PROVENANCE:

Victor von Klemperer (1876-1943), armorial bookplate