Catullus (Gaius Valerius).- Guarini (Alessandro) Alexandri Guarini Ferrariensis In. C.V. Catullum Veronensem Per baptistam Patrem Emendatum Expositiones cum Indice, collation: A¹⁰ B-P⁸ Q-R⁴, italic type, commentary surrounding text double column, title within woodcut ornamental border, initial spaces with guide-letters, Q⁴, 18th century red deer, gilt spine in compartments and with black morocco label, rubbed and scuffed, small 4to (199 x 129mm.), [Venice], [Giorgio de Rusconi], [11 May, 1521].

⁂ A rare copy of the first edition of one of the most important printings of Catullus, with a superb provenance. Guarinus based his edition on the manuscript his father had worked on, along with the work of various Catullan scholars. His knowledge of variant readings and interpretations is reflected in his discussions of textual problems, to which he sometimes contributes his own solutions.

Provenance: Bernard von Mallinckrodt (1591-1664), bibliophile and originator of the term 'incunabula' in his 1639 work De ortu et progressu artis typographicae (ink ownership inscription to title, dated Vienna 1631); Hopetoun (engraved armorial bookplate); Walter Ashburner (1834-1936), bibliophile and fellow of Merton College, Oxford, (ink stamp to title).

Literature: Adams C1141 (erroneously ending collation at Q⁴)