[FIRST ALDINE EDITION 1502]. Metamorphoseon libri XV (Metamorphoses)

Venice: Aldo Manuzio (Aldus Manutius), 1502. First Edition thus. Good. 8vo (167 x 97 mm). Collation: a-z8 A-B8 C4 (lacking C2-3 but not the Aldine anchor on C4r; traces of damp on front pastedown and first gathering; fols. d1-f4 stained for which SEE IMAGES, fol. c4 with small hole, affecting text). Contemporary Italian (Venetian?) brown morocco over bevelled wooden boards (rebacked with portions of original spine laid down, back cover broken away from textblock): central panel of two knotwork ornaments framed by individual small rectangular ornaments, in outer border small winged putti, 8 (of 8) small bosses, 4 (of 4) catches, 1 (of 4) clasps (this clasp is on the top edge and is partially broken). Top edge of the texblock lettered with the author's name in contemporary MS: P. OVIDII NASO; on the fore-edge: METAMORPHOSEON L. XV (front pastedown partially lifted, first gathering possibly resewn, other repairs). Overall a very good copy in a contemporary Italian binding. FIRST ALDINE EDITION OF OVID'S METAMORPHOSES, RARELY FOUND IN A CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN BINDING, AS HERE.

This very special volume contains Ovid's text of the Metamorphoses, but not the preliminary material (a-h8 a-z8) containing Aldus's dedication to Marino Sannudo, the privilege, and indices of names. The title-page to the bespoke section reads "Quae hoc volumine continentur Ad Marinum Sannutum Epistola (etc.)" on which also appears the Aldine Dolphin and Anchor. This device was reprinted on the colophon (fol. C4) and is present in our copy. The Metamorphoses forms part of Aldus's 3-volume set of Ovid (1502-1503). Dibdin writes: "These are the beautiful, rare, and valuable editions of Ovid which were printed in the office of Aldus. The edition of 1502 seems to have been compiled chiefly by Aldus himself. The text is pure, and the work has been highly praised."

BINDING: The distinctive tools on our binding have not been located in De Marinis, De la legatura artistica in Italia, with its 545 beautiful reproductions. Admittedly De Marinis focused largely on gold-tooled bindings from the mid-16th century. Although our binding has been repaired and is defective, it is nonetheless extremely interesting and merits further research: that the lower hinge is broken allows us to observe the precise sewing structure of an Italian binding that dates from the earliest part of the 16th century. Could it be Venetian?

The rarity of the 1502 Aldine Metamorphoses in a contemporary binding is attested by the paltry number of them that have appeared on the market in the last 136 years. Our friend and colleague T. Kimball Brooker, who with almost unlimited means, was able to secure only four really good ones over a period of sixty-four years. These were sold at Sotheby's last year, specifically:

1. 25 June 2025, lot 1256: bound in Bologna by the Pflug and Ebeleben Binder ($9525);
2. 25 June 2025, lot 1257: bound in nothern black morocco ($6350);
3. 25 June 2025, lot 1258: (Florentine?) brown morocco ($11,430); this was purchased at Christie's NY, 31 October 1991, lot 203; prior to that it was offered in Quaritch Catalogue 876 item 176;
4. 25 June 2025, lot 1259: Parisian gold tooled morocco, offered again 17 December 2025, lot 215.

To Kim's small group we may add only two more with any confidence. While two others were described as "period" or "contemporary," such designation is dubious:

5 (dubious). Addison and Sarova, 27 April 2024, lot 8: "period calf boards" (seriously defective);
6 (dubious). Bolaffi, 1 January 2013, lot 284: "contemporary" [Italian] vellum";
7. Sotheby's London, 28 July 1958, lot 462: contemporary blind-tooled Italian red morocco;
8. Maggs Catalogue 356, item 5: "original Aldine binding of morocco";

PROVENANCE: engraved 17th (?) century bookplate inside lower cover copied after an engraving by Hieronymus Wieix (1553-1619): the Young Christ carrying the instruments of the Passion: on his shoulder he carries the cross, the ladder, the spear and the sponge. In a bucket, he carries other Arma Christi such as the hammer and tongs. The motto "In laboribus a iuventute mea" is part of Psalm 87 (88):16 which in English reads: "I am weakened, from childhood in mortal danger, bewildered I must endure your wrath."

§ Not in Clemons and Fletcher's great Grolier Club exhibition catalogue. Adams O-459. Renouard 37:12. UCLA 66.