Horatius Flaccus, Horatius, Venice, Aldo, 1501, printed on vellum, modern red morocco

Horatius Flaccus, Quintus. Horatius. Venice: Aldo Manuzio, May 1501

First Aldine edition, a third copy, printed on vellum. Van Praet (IV, 1822, pp. 84-86; VI, p. 85) mentions ten copies on vellum, and Renouard (1834) eight.

"Horace concludes the third book of his odes by stating—proudly, prophetically, and accurately—that he had established his own immortality. Odes III. 30 opens with the immortal words Exegi monumentum aere perennius, 'I have finished a monument more lasting than bronze'" (Grolier/Aldus 27).

Copies recorded by modern catalogues

(1)    Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France (Vélins 2084)

(2)    Modena, Biblioteca Estense Universitaria (α.S.2.33)

(3)    Milan, Archivio Storico Civico e Biblioteca Trivulziana (Caterina Santoro, I tesori della Trivulziana, 1962, no. 144)

(4)    Munich, Bayerische  Staatsbibliothek  (L.impr.membr. 15)

(5)    Bern, Universitätsbibliothek (MUE Inc III 124)

(6)     London, British  Library  (C.4.d.3)

(7)    London,  British  Library  (G.9422)

(8)     Manchester, John Rylands Library (3362)

(9)     Berkeley, University of California at Berkeley, James K. Moffitt Collection (PA6393.A2 1501)

Another copy, once in the Powis collection of Aldines (Sotheby’s London, 20-22 March 1923, lot 381), passed through the hands of Quaritch (Catalogue 468, 1933, item 284) and is untraced.

8vo (140 x 90 mm). Printed on vellum. Italic types, 30 lines plus headline. collation: a-s⁸: 144 leaves (s8 blank). 3-, 4-, and 6- line initial spaces with guide-letters. (Title-page stained, defective, and repaired, title completely abraded, text on verso preserved, first and last few leaves stained and with small repairs costing several letters on last leaf, balance of text clean apart from occasional natural discoloration of vellum.)

binding: Modern crushed red morocco (154 x 112 mm), covers with gilt French-fillet border, spine gilt in six compartments, marbled endpapers, gilt edges. Red marbled slipcase.

provenance: Unidentified owner, obscured inscription, "Questo … La guicog cadoril(?) Salacamen(?) P_ _t_(?)." on title- page — possibly one of the untraced copies mentioned by Van Praet (Duke of Cassano, George Mason, or the Powis copy rebound?) — Sergio Colombi (1887-1972), bookplate — Libero Marzetto (1906-1993), bookplate. acquisition: Purchased from Libreria antiquaria Mediolanum, Milan (their ticket on front pastedown), 2013. references: UCLA 41; Adams H854; Aldo Manuzio tipografo 45; Grolier/Aldus 27, 30; Edit16 22672; Renouard 27/4; USTC 835851; Van Praet, Catalogue de livres imprimés sur vélin de la Bibliothéque du Roi IV: 105