Theocritus, Idyllia [and other works], Venice, Aldus, 1495, nineteenth-century English diced calf

Theocritus, Hesiod and others

Ειδυλλια; Theognis; Dionysius Cato: Disticha [translated into Greek by Maximus Planudes]; Sententiae Septem sapientium; De invidia; Hesiodus: Opera et dies, Theogonia. Venice: Aldus, February 1495/96

Super-Chancery folio (255 x 172mm.), 140 leaves, A.A-Δ.D⁸ E.E.-Θ.G.⁶; AA.αα-ΔΔ.δδ⁸ ΕΕ.εε⁶ ΖΖ.ζζ¹⁰; α.a-β.b⁸ γ.c¹⁰; δ.d-ε.e⁸, 30 lines, Greek type, woodcut initials and headpieces, nineteenth-century English diced calf by Charles Hering (with his ticket), a short copy, first leaf slightly soiled, small wormhole at foot, last leaf slightly torn and repaired, rebacked retaining original spine, extremities rubbed

In the dedication to Battista Guarino, Aldus mentions that he was taught in Ferrara by Guarino, and indeed mentions that Guarino had wanted him to produce an edition of Hesiod's Theogonia for his students; although Theocritus's Idylls had been previously issued in Milan in 1480 by Bonus Accursius, this volume contains the editio princeps of Theogonia.

This is the second issue, with ten leaves reprinted with corrections and additions, and the poem on the death of Adonis on Θ.G6v which is blank in the first issue. See lot 229 for a copy of the first issue.

LITERATURE:

Aldo Manuzio tipografo 7; ISTC it00144000; Renouard 5/3; UCLA 7.5

PROVENANCE:

"J[aco]bus du Poirier Turonensis", inscription dated Tours, 1684 at foot of first leaf; Mark Pattison, Lincoln College Oxford, blind stamp on first leaf; Henry Latham, armorial bookplate; Libreria antiquaria Pregliaso, bookseller's label on inside front cover

The medical doctor Jacques du Poirier was known to have had a library of Greek and Latin manuscripts as well as medical works.