Epigrammata
first edition Hardcover
1501 · Venice
by [ALDINE PRESS] MARTIAL (Marcus Valerius Martialis) (40104 CE)
Venice: in Aedibus Aldi, 1501. First Edition thus. Hardcover. Very Good. [Venice, Aldus, December 1501]. 8vo (158 x95mm). Pagination: [192, the last blank]. Signatures: A-Z(8), &(8). Collated and complete, retaining the colophon leaf on &8r. Text in italic. Printed guide letters in initials, printed catchwords. Contemporary German decorated pigskin over beveled wooden boards, blind-tooled in panels with stamped devices of personified virtues, inscribed IVSTICIA, OCCA, FORTIT(UDINUS), and LVCRECIA, and putti carrying baskets, spine with three raised bands, brass catches; (lacking clasps, some light outer edgewear and corners worn; title browned with some wear, light marginal spots, few worm holes affecting text block mostly at end, margins shaved close in some areas). Title and front pastedown with contemporary inscriptions, probably of former owners, in Latin Christoph. and Georgius. This copy annotated throughout several books by a contemporary reader in Latin, writing in a very fine miniscule hand and adding some manicules to margins. The final blank verso is inscribed with over 30 Latin words Judicium (judging) Censura (censorship), these words seem to connect to the satire, although it is not certain.
First Aldine edition; the editio princeps was published in Ferrara in 1471. Aldine printed Martial as the fourth book in his series of classics, which included the ancient Roman authors Virgil, Horace and Juvenal; all printed in 1501. Martial was also one of the first classic authors printed by Aldus before he began to use the famous printers device with the anchor and dolphin. This edition of Martials Epigrammata was the fifth work printed in italic type to come out of the Aldine press. It is distinct from the Lyonnese forgeries by inclusion of the words Amphitheatrum and seposita on the first text leaf. Divided in 12 books comprising 1500 short compositions, the Epigrammata is a satire on human nature. Martials epigrams are composed as ironic, witty, and critical statements that not only reveal a cynical view of the world, but glimpse into his Roman past. This is an important work in the body of Aldine classics, the first Editio Aldina, as well as containing extra interest in inscriptions of the Renaissance reader. Rare, but held in some of the usual institutions via OCLC. USTC indexes several incunable examples for the Epigrammata printed in Venice, but not this 1501 edition. After this publication, they record the next Martial, Epigrammata in Brescia in 1530. Renouard, 30.7; Adams, M-689; Ahmanson-Murphy, 37; BMC, 420; UCLA, 37. (Inventory #: D16271)
First Aldine edition; the editio princeps was published in Ferrara in 1471. Aldine printed Martial as the fourth book in his series of classics, which included the ancient Roman authors Virgil, Horace and Juvenal; all printed in 1501. Martial was also one of the first classic authors printed by Aldus before he began to use the famous printers device with the anchor and dolphin. This edition of Martials Epigrammata was the fifth work printed in italic type to come out of the Aldine press. It is distinct from the Lyonnese forgeries by inclusion of the words Amphitheatrum and seposita on the first text leaf. Divided in 12 books comprising 1500 short compositions, the Epigrammata is a satire on human nature. Martials epigrams are composed as ironic, witty, and critical statements that not only reveal a cynical view of the world, but glimpse into his Roman past. This is an important work in the body of Aldine classics, the first Editio Aldina, as well as containing extra interest in inscriptions of the Renaissance reader. Rare, but held in some of the usual institutions via OCLC. USTC indexes several incunable examples for the Epigrammata printed in Venice, but not this 1501 edition. After this publication, they record the next Martial, Epigrammata in Brescia in 1530. Renouard, 30.7; Adams, M-689; Ahmanson-Murphy, 37; BMC, 420; UCLA, 37. (Inventory #: D16271)