Details
PLATINA, Bartholomaeus (1421-1481). Vitae pontificum. [Venice:] Johannes de Colonia and Johannes Manthen, 11 June 1479.
Chancery 2o (306 x 205 mm). Collation: a10 b-o8 p6 q-y8 z10 &8 aa-ee8 ff6 (a1r blank, a1v letter to the author by Hieronymus Squarzaficus, quire register, a2r proem, a3r text, ff6r colophon, ff6v blank). 240 leaves. 40 lines. Type: 8:109R3, 110Gk (on c4v). Two 7-line and numerous 2- and 3-line initial spaces, some with printed guide letters. Two large modern illuminated initials, the first in liquid gold ornamented in black ink with quatrefoils on the arms of the M, an interlace down the central bar on a ground of blue and mauve, with silver/white penwork decoration of hairline stems and thistle plants, the second initial in blue on a reddish-mauve ground with similar filigree decoration, both with quarter borders of filigree floral sprays. Contemporary red or blue Lombard initials, yellow capital strokes in first few quires. (Small hole in fore-margin of first few leaves, marginal worming in first 4 quires, marginal tears to k3-5, bb1 and dd1.) Contemporary calf over wooden boards, sides ruled in blind with central panel of intersecting triple fillets forming diaper design, small star tools at intersections (rebacked in the 18th century, spine gold-tooled and lettered, rubbed, endpapers renewed, lacking the two fore-edge clasps and catches), several deckle edges preserved.
Provenance: neat contemporary Latin marginalia by two different readers, one mixing Latin and Greek -- Cornelius Papens (16th or 17th-c. inscription) -- Louvain, Oratorians, founded 1611 (18th-century inscription on first blank page).
FIRST EDITION of the first systematic papal history. Platina (Bartolomeo Sacchi of Piadena) was Vatican Librarian under Sixtus IV and was influential in the restructuring of the library that was undertaken by that Pope. The dedication manuscript to Sixtus IV is still preserved at the Vatican Library.
HC 13045*; BMC V, 235 (IB. 20355-56); CIBN P-443; Harvard/Walsh 1712-13; IGI 7857; Pr 4336; Goff P-768.
Chancery 2
Provenance: neat contemporary Latin marginalia by two different readers, one mixing Latin and Greek -- Cornelius Papens (16th or 17th-c. inscription) -- Louvain, Oratorians, founded 1611 (18th-century inscription on first blank page).
FIRST EDITION of the first systematic papal history. Platina (Bartolomeo Sacchi of Piadena) was Vatican Librarian under Sixtus IV and was influential in the restructuring of the library that was undertaken by that Pope. The dedication manuscript to Sixtus IV is still preserved at the Vatican Library.
HC 13045*; BMC V, 235 (IB. 20355-56); CIBN P-443; Harvard/Walsh 1712-13; IGI 7857; Pr 4336; Goff P-768.