Aelianus, Variae historiae [and other works], Rome, Blado, 1545, modern half vellum

Aelianus, Heraclides, Polemo, Adamantius and Melampus

Αιλιανου ποικιλης ιστοριας. βιβλια ιδ. Εκ την Ηρακλειδου περι πολιτειων υπομνημα. Πολημωνος φισιογνωμονικων εγχειριδιον... Variae historiae... Rome: Antonio Blado, January 1545

4to (207 x 148mm.), woodcut device on title-page and final verso, text in Greek, with blank leaf between index and colophon, modern half vellum, title-page soiled, cut slightly close at head

EDITIO PRINCEPS of Claudius Aelianus's miscellaneous collection of maxims and anecdotes, containing details of various Greek writers and historians with information about daily habits and customs of the times, such as fishing or dress.

Heraclides Lembus wrote a substantial history which survives only in fragments, but includes the epitome of the Athenian Constitution which appears here. The work on divination by interpreting twitches (palmomancy) is attributed here to the soothsayer Melampus.

LITERATURE:

Edit16 316

PROVENANCE:

Carthusians of Venice, inscription on title-page; Loverdos Collection, gilt bookplate and library stamp to rear pastedown