Theocritus. Bucolica [graece], collation: a-i⁸, [k]⁴, complete with blank leaf k3, [79]ff., text in Greek, Latin colophon on fol. k2r, woodcut printer's device on fol. k4v, blank spaces for capitals with guide-letters, a very good copy, ruled in pale red ink throughout, title slightly soiled and spotted, some foxing, a few finger-marks, lower half of front flyleaf cut away, rear flyleaves with pencilled list of poems included, verso of the front flyleaf the note 'Editio secunda, rarissima...' in a 19^th-century hand, fine late 18^th-century straight-grain red morocco by Roger Payne, covers with single gilt fillet border, spine with five raised bands, underlined by gilt fillets, green morocco label, gilt ruled cover edges and turn-ins, marbled endpapers, a few ink stains to covers, 8vo, 166 x 108mm., Florence, Filippo Giunta, 10 January, 1515 [but 1516].

⁂ The rare Juntine edition of Theocritus' Bucolica, in a handsome binding by Roger Payne and with a distinguished provenance. The volume was once in the library of the well-known physician Anthony Askew, who assembled one of the richest Greek collections of the time. The copy later passed through the hands of Michael Wodhull, the famous translator of the tragedies of Euripides. "His splendid library [...] was particularly rich in early editions of the Greek and Latin classics, and in the works printed in the fifteenth century. All the books - many of which were bound by Roger Payne - were in fine condition, and some of them had once formed part of the libraries of François I., Grolier, Henry II, and Diana of Poitiers" (W. Y. Fletcher, English Book Collectors, London 1902, p. 264).

Provenance: The English physician Anthony Askew (1722-72; ownership inscription on recto of front flyleaf; see sale S. Baker & G. Leight, London, 13 February 1775, lot 3466); sold at Sir Thomas Croft's sale by Paterson (ink inscription on recto of front flyleaf); Michael Wodhull (1740-1816; ownership inscription on recto of front flyleaf 'M. Wodhull April 19th 1783'); George Dunn (1864-1912; ex-libris on front pastedown and pencilled note 'G.D. Feb. 1887').