Description
Urbanus Bellunensis. Institutiones Graecae Grammatices, text in Latin and Greek, 214 ff., 27 lines, Greek and Roman type, a4v full-page woodcut diagram, woodcut decorative initials, initial spaces with guide-letter, errata in first state with 28 lines, but with 3 not 4 lines on final verso, early ink marginalia, 14th century theological manuscript used as endpapers, some staining and spotting, contemporary Italian tooled calf-backed wooden boards, 1 of 2 leather and metal clasps, skilfully and sympathetically rebacked, a few small wormholes, [BMC V, 558; Goff U-66; HC 2763; Renouard, Alde, 11:4; not in Ahmanson-Murphy], 4to, Venice, Aldus Manutius, January, 1497/1498.
⁂ Editio princeps of the first Greek grammar in Latin, which Renouard calls extrêmement rare. Indeed, he goes on to qualify this by relating how in a letter of 1499 Erasmus complained that it was impossible to find a copy. Aldus was aware that there was a market for a Greek grammar that was not solely in that language and so approached his friend Urbanus to write this bilingual edition, thereby increasing the accessibility of the language of Aristotle and Homer to a wider audience. Aldus had established his press in 1495 with the aim of increasing the availability of classical texts (particularly Greek) to scholars and students.
Lot 206
Urbanus Bellunensis. Institutiones Graecae Grammatices, editio princeps, 1497.
Hammer Price: £6,000
Description
Urbanus Bellunensis. Institutiones Graecae Grammatices, text in Latin and Greek, 214 ff., 27 lines, Greek and Roman type, a4v full-page woodcut diagram, woodcut decorative initials, initial spaces with guide-letter, errata in first state with 28 lines, but with 3 not 4 lines on final verso, early ink marginalia, 14th century theological manuscript used as endpapers, some staining and spotting, contemporary Italian tooled calf-backed wooden boards, 1 of 2 leather and metal clasps, skilfully and sympathetically rebacked, a few small wormholes, [BMC V, 558; Goff U-66; HC 2763; Renouard, Alde, 11:4; not in Ahmanson-Murphy], 4to, Venice, Aldus Manutius, January, 1497/1498.
⁂ Editio princeps of the first Greek grammar in Latin, which Renouard calls extrêmement rare. Indeed, he goes on to qualify this by relating how in a letter of 1499 Erasmus complained that it was impossible to find a copy. Aldus was aware that there was a market for a Greek grammar that was not solely in that language and so approached his friend Urbanus to write this bilingual edition, thereby increasing the accessibility of the language of Aristotle and Homer to a wider audience. Aldus had established his press in 1495 with the aim of increasing the availability of classical texts (particularly Greek) to scholars and students.