Lucanus, Civilis Belli, Venice, Heirs of Aldo & Torresano, 1515, Italian brown morocco (Bologna?, Siena? ca. 1520)

Lucanus, Marcus Annaeus. Civilis Belli. Venice: Heirs of Aldo Manuzio & Andrea Torresano, July 1515

Another copy of the second edition. The unidentified original owner, “Mar. Ant. B.,” also possessed a volume containing the 1517 Aldine Martial and 1519 Iuvenalis, lettered on its upper cover “Martialis” and on the lower “Mar. Ant. B.” (British Library, Henry Davis Gift 738).

8vo (162 x 88 mm). Italic type, 30 lines plus headline. collation: a-r⁸ s⁴: 140 leaves. Woodcut Aldine device to final verso. (Intermittent dampstaining, a1, a2, h7, h8 and s4 with restoration, first three leaves with small chips to edges.)

binding: Italian brown morocco (168 x 102 mm), ca. 1520, three blind fillets around sides, floral gilt frame within two double gilt fillets flanked by blind fillets, two gilt fillets around central panel interlaced to form two lozenges enclosing floral stamps and interlace again to form a central frame with LVCANVS on upper cover and MAR.ANT.B on lower, traces of four pairs of ties. (Rebacked, gilt a little faded.)

provenance: Unidentified owner, supralibros, lower cover lettered "Mar. Ant. B." — contemporary inscription, "D. Gengare Giannelli," on title-page — Giorgio Fanan, bookplate to pastedown. acquisition: Purchased from Libreria antiquaria Pregliasco, Turin, 1984. references: UCLA 135; Renouard 72/6; Aldo Manuzio tipografo 133.5; Edit16 37522; USTC 838719