Cicero, De philosophia volumen primum, Venice, Aldus, 1523, Bolognese morocco gilt for Jakob von Mosheim

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. M. T. Ciceronis De philosophia volumen primum, in quo haec continentur. Academicarum quaestionum. Editionis primae liber secundus. Editionis secundae liber primus. De finibus bonorum et malorum libri V. Tusculanarum quaestionum libri V. Venice: heirs of Aldo Manuzio & Andrea Torresano, May 1523

The first owner of this book, Jakob von Mosheim (or Moshaim, Mosham, Moßhaimb) was one of three sons of the Austrian nobleman Benedikt von Mosheim, Pfleger von Großsölk (1494) and von Strechau in Styria (1509-1513), and Catharina Gründner. Jakob matriculated at Vienna in 1514 (Bacc. art. 1516; Mag. art. 1518). He is evidently the "Dnum. Jacobum de Morsheim artium ingenuarum Doctorem laureatum" addressed by Lukas Capher in a volume of Orationes (Vienna: Johann Singriener, 1519; VD16 C 806) and the "Iacobus de Moshaym philosophus ingenuis adolescentibus" who addresses – perhaps as their preceptor, or as a family friend – the brothers Wolfgang and Sebastian Hutstocker in a commentary on the Liber Ecclesiasticus (Vienna: Johann Singriener, September 1519; VD16 B 4044). In 1522, Jakob followed his elder brother, Ruprecht (1493-1543), to Bologna. He was nominated Procurator of the Natio Germanica in 1523, and reputedly promoted doctor juris utriusque in 1529.

It was customary for foreign students at Bologna university to have their schoolbooks specially bound by local bookbinders, to keep as mementos of their student years. The binder usually lettered the book’s title in the center of the upper cover, in some sort of frame, and the owner’s name and often a date in the same place on the lower cover. Presumably, Jakob von Mosheim gave both volumes of the two-volume 1523 Aldine Opera Philosophica to his binder; the second volume of the set (issued three months after the first, in August 1523) is unfortunately lost, or else unrecognized. Other books belonging to Jakob von Mosheim are recorded (in Benediktinerstift Admont and Staatsbibliothek Berlin; Bibl. Diez, fol. 491), however information about their bindings is unavailable.

Volume 1 only (of 2). 8vo (161 x 97 mm). Italic type, 31 lines. collation: *⁸ a-z⁸ A-I⁸: 264 leaves. (Title and first few leaves with marginal staining, a few other intermittent stains.)

binding: Bolognese binding (164 x 107 mm), ca. 1525, dark brown morocco over pasteboards, blind arabesque border and cornerpieces, in center a long gilt cartouche containing on upper cover M.T.C./PHILO/SOPHI:/VOLV/MEN.I. and on lower cover IACO/BVS/DE/MOS/HAM, stubs of 4 pairs of green silk ties. (Restoration to ends of spine, joints, and corners.)

provenance: Jakob von Mosheim (or Moshaim, Mosham; ca. 1472-1547, binding, "Iacobus De Mosham" lettered on lower cover) — unidentified owner(s) (occasional marginalia) — Kenneth John Hewett (1919-1994, bookplate). acquisition: Purchased from Patrick King, Stony Stratford, 1999. references: UCLA 222; Cataldi Palau 88 (both volumes); Edit16 12220 (both volumes); Renouard 97/4