Details
SILIUS ITALICUS. Punica. Commentary by Petrus Marsus (1442-1512). Venice: Baptista de Tortis, 6 May 1483.
Chancery 2° (295 x 200mm). Collation: a-k8 i-z6 & 6 8 (a1r blank, a1v dedicatory letter by Marsus to Virginius Ursinus; a2r Life of Sylvius, synopsis, a4r text with commentary, 8v blank). 178 leaves. 64 lines of commentary. Type: 1:114R (text), 2:78R (commentary). (2 very small wormholes in first quires touching a few letters). 18th-century Dutch red morocco panelled in gilt with central ornament composed of drawer-handle and other tools, floral tool at corners, gilt border, gilt spine, marbled endpapers, gilt edges (expertly repaired at hinges). Provenance: contemporary inscription washed from first leaf; unidentified (Italian?) armorial stamp on first blank.
First edition with this commentary. An Italian humanist praised by Erasmus, Pietro Marso was a student and close associate of Pomponius Laetus. He had been imprisoned briefly with Laetus in 1468, and delivered an oration at his funeral. The two men shared an interest in the Punica, since Laetus had edited it earlier, and Marso wrote the accompanying commentary for the present edition. HC *14739; BMC V, 323 (IB.21343); Goff S-507; IDL 4121; IGI 8976.
Chancery 2° (295 x 200mm). Collation: a-k8 i-z6 & 6 8 (a1r blank, a1v dedicatory letter by Marsus to Virginius Ursinus; a2r Life of Sylvius, synopsis, a4r text with commentary, 8v blank). 178 leaves. 64 lines of commentary. Type: 1:114R (text), 2:78R (commentary). (2 very small wormholes in first quires touching a few letters). 18th-century Dutch red morocco panelled in gilt with central ornament composed of drawer-handle and other tools, floral tool at corners, gilt border, gilt spine, marbled endpapers, gilt edges (expertly repaired at hinges). Provenance: contemporary inscription washed from first leaf; unidentified (Italian?) armorial stamp on first blank.
First edition with this commentary. An Italian humanist praised by Erasmus, Pietro Marso was a student and close associate of Pomponius Laetus. He had been imprisoned briefly with Laetus in 1468, and delivered an oration at his funeral. The two men shared an interest in the Punica, since Laetus had edited it earlier, and Marso wrote the accompanying commentary for the present edition. HC *14739; BMC V, 323 (IB.21343); Goff S-507; IDL 4121; IGI 8976.