Ortelius' copy.- Clement of Alexandria (Pope, Saint) Opera [graece], collation: ?⁴, ?-?⁶ , A⁸, B-F⁶, G-H⁴, I-Z⁶, Aa-Ff⁶, Gg-Hh^4, 42, [2], 347 [i.e. 359], [1] pp., Greek text, title within rich architectural woodcut border, fine woodcut animated initials and headpieces, small ink stain on title affecting two letters, contemporary Dutch vellum with yapp edges, covers framed within borders of gilt fillets, fleur-de-lys at each corner, large gilt central fleuron, smooth spine divided in compartments by gilt fillets and decorated with small fleur-de-lys, traces of ties, a very fresh, crisp copy, folio, 344 x 221mm., Florence, Lorenzo Torrentino, 1550.

⁂ Editio princeps of the works by the Christian theologian Clemens of Alexandria, in an extraordinary copy that once belonged to Abraham Ortelius. The texts were edited by the Florentine humanist Pietro Vettori (1499-1585), on the basis, as he declares in his dedicatory epistle to the cardinal Marcello Cervini, of an ancient and authoritative manuscript owned at the time by Rodolfo Pio, Bishop of Carpi (possibly the Ms Gr. 126 now preserved in the Biblioteca Estense in Modena).

A previous owner of this copy was the great Dutch geographer and map-maker Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598). Ortelius is generally considered as the creator of the first modern atlas, the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, first published in 1570. In 1575 he was appointed geographer to Philip II, King of Spain.

Ortelius bequeathed part of his library to Cambridge University Library through his nephew Jacob Cole. The rest of Ortelius's library seems to have been dispersed on the Continent.

This copy therefore offers a significant insight into our still fragmentary knowledge of the books which belonged to him.

Provenance: Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598; ownsership inscription at foot of title 'Abrah. Ortelij Ant.'); Pietro Ginori-Conti (ex-libris on front pastedown).

Literature: Adams C-2104; Moreni, pp. 91-93; R.W. Karrow (ed.), Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598): cartograaf en humanist, Turnhout 1998; B. Op de Beeck - A. De Coster, "Books and Bindings from the Library of Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598). With a Provisional Checklist, Bibliophiles et reliures, 2006, pp. 374-409.