Libri de re rustica. M. Catonis Lib. I. M. Terentii Varronis Lib. III: L. Iunii Moderati Columellae Lib. XII

Venetiis: in aedibus Aldi, et Andrea Soceri Mense Maio, 1514. First Aldine edition, 4to (approx. 198 x 125 mm), ff. [33], 308; 341 leaves (of 342, lacking the blank leaf cc10 ); collating *8, aa-bb8 cc10 (-c10) a-h8 i4 k-z8 A-Q8; 3 woodcut printer's devices (title page, aa1, and verso of last leaf); initial spaces with guide-letters (2 initials with later hand-coloring), and 16 woodcut line drawings in the text, mostly of a geometrical nature, but including one of a plough; 18th-century full polished tan calf, gilt spine red morocco label; portion of last leaf strengthened on verso (not touching the printer's device, but close), binding a bit rubbed and worn, but generally a very good copy. Ownership signature of Reginald Reynolds, Po'keepsie N.Y., 1863. Bookseller's ticket of G. P. Philes & Co., 51 Nassau St., N.Y. Contains the texts of four classical authors on agricultural and domestic subjects: Cato's De re rustica (dealing with the development of vine-, olive- and fruit-growing and grazing for profit in Latium and Campania); Varro's Rerum rusticarum (dealing with agriculture in general, cattle- and sheep-breeding, and matters concerning smaller livestock that might be kept on a farm, including birds, bees, fish, etc.); both Columella's De re rustica (dealing with land and crops, vines, domestic animals, poultry, cattle, bees, etc.), together with his treatise on trees, De arboribus; and Palladius' Opus agriculturae, in fourteen books and arranged according to the farmer's year. Adams, S-805; BM-STC Italian, p. 160; Renouard, 66:2. Ahmanson-Murphy 121. (Inventory #: 69531)