![DEMOSTHENES (384-322 B.C.). Orationes duae & sexaginta. Libanii sophistae in eas ipsas orationes argumenta. Vita Demosthenis per Libanium. Eiusdem vita per Plutarchum, in Greek. Edited by Aldus Manutius. Venice: Aldine Press [Andrea Torresano], November 1504 [ca. 1520-1527].](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/1999/NYR/1999_NYR_09178_0027_000(115052).jpg?w=1)
Details
DEMOSTHENES (384-322 B.C.). Orationes duae & sexaginta. Libanii sophistae in eas ipsas orationes argumenta. Vita Demosthenis per Libanium. Eiusdem vita per Plutarchum, in Greek. Edited by Aldus Manutius. Venice: Aldine Press [Andrea Torresano], November 1504 [ca. 1520-1527].
Royal 4o (281 x 183 mm). Greek type. Aldine woodcut anchor device on title (Fletcher f6). Final blank leaf present. (Few neatly filled wormholes at beginning and end, occasional slight discoloration, short marginal tear to E4.) FINE CONTEMPORARY VENETIAN alla greca BINDING of light brown goatskin over wooden boards, sides panelled in blind and gilt fillets, central geometrical blind-outlined gilt cartouche containing the gilt-lettered author's name in Greek, flat spine with overall diaper pattern formed by intersecting blind fillets, boards cut down to the text block to produce "raised" headcaps and fore-edges flush with the edges of the boards, board edges grooved, 4 original leather clasps, each composed of three leather plaits, catching on upper cover with brass catches and hooks (one plait broken, one clasp defective), original endpapers and 2 pairs of flyleaves, edges lightly mottled in red, the author's name lettered in Greek on fore-edge, a later ownership stamp on upper edge (few small repaired wormholes to sides, small scrapes to upper cover, old repair at top of spine, some wear to headcaps, superficial restoration to lower headcap, some cracking along joints and spine.) Provenance: circular stamp branded on upper edge of text block, initials SAM or STAM; Charles Giraud (sale Paris 1855, lot 892); P. Guy Pellion (bookplate, sale Paris 1882, lot 119); Henry Houssaye (bookplate, sale Paris 1912, lot 85); with Jacques Rosenthal, 1927, catalogue 87/208.
Second edition. Torresano's corrected reimpression of the 1504 editio princeps maintained the same date in the colophon, but can be dated on the basis of the device to approximately 20 years later.
A FINE COPY, in its first binding, nearly unrestored. Traditionally considered imitations of the Greek style, the Venetian alla greca bindings came into fashion in the late 15th century. Their structure in every way follows the methods used by bindings produced in Greece, and some may have been produced by native Greek artisans residing in Venice. Adams D-260; Ahmanson-Murphy 69; Renouard p. 47:7; Fletcher, Aldine Studies, pp. 55-58. Binding: De Marinis III:2709, plate 478.
Royal 4
Second edition. Torresano's corrected reimpression of the 1504 editio princeps maintained the same date in the colophon, but can be dated on the basis of the device to approximately 20 years later.
A FINE COPY, in its first binding, nearly unrestored. Traditionally considered imitations of the Greek style, the Venetian alla greca bindings came into fashion in the late 15th century. Their structure in every way follows the methods used by bindings produced in Greece, and some may have been produced by native Greek artisans residing in Venice. Adams D-260; Ahmanson-Murphy 69; Renouard p. 47:7; Fletcher, Aldine Studies, pp. 55-58. Binding: De Marinis III:2709, plate 478.
Sale room notice
Please note that the branded stamp on the upper edge of the text block is that of the Franciscans of Munich.