![ARISTOTLE (384-322 B.C.) Ethica ad Nicomachum. -Politica. - pseudo-Aristotle. Oeconomica. Translated from Greek into Latin, with prefaces, by Leonardus Brunus Aretinus. -- Leonardus BRUNUS Aretinus (1370-1444, papal secretary, later Chancellor of Florence). Epistola ad Eugenium IV papam. -Epistola ad dominos Seneses, and response. [Strassburg: Johann Mentelin, before 10th April 1469].](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2003/CKS/2003_CKS_06704_0029_000(054428).jpg?w=1)
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ARISTOTLE (384-322 B.C.) Ethica ad Nicomachum. -Politica. - pseudo-Aristotle. Oeconomica. Translated from Greek into Latin, with prefaces, by Leonardus Brunus Aretinus. -- Leonardus BRUNUS Aretinus (1370-1444, papal secretary, later Chancellor of Florence). Epistola ad Eugenium IV papam. -Epistola ad dominos Seneses, and response. [Strassburg: Johann Mentelin, before 10th April 1469].
Chancery 2° (281 x 207mm). Collation: [1-210 3-48 (Ethics: translator's preface and books 1-4, -4/8 blank), 510 (Ethics bk 5, 5/10v blank), 6-710 812 (Ethics bks 6-9), 910 (Ethics bk 10); 10-1310 (Politics: translator's preface and bks 1-3, -13/10 blank), 148 156 (Politics bk 4), 16-1910 (Politics bks 5-7, 19/10v blank), 20-218 (Politics bk 8, 20/7v blank, Economics: translator's preface and bks 1-2, 21/6r blank, translator's dedication of Politics to Pope Eugene IV, translator's letter presenting a copy of Politics to Siena, acceptance from the Governors of Siena). 196 leaves (without the two blanks). 32 lines. Gothic type 5:92b leaded to 112. Spaces for Greek words in the preface to Ethics left blank (not supplied in manuscript). Pinhole in lower margins preserved.
Ten-, seven-, six- and three-line initial spaces. 20 large preface and book initials and three-quarter floral border on first page illuminated in colours (no gold) by a contemporary German artist (middle or upper Rhine), two large interlocking initials in red-and-blue penwork, smaller initials in red or blue, manuscript headlines in red, initial guide-letters in brown ink. Only a few rubrics, no capital-strokes. (Minor worming, some flaking of illumination, border just shaved at foot.) 18th-century German vellum binding, red sprinkled edges (slightly worn and soiled). Provenance: Henricus Schruckl de Spalt, purchase inscription dated October 1476 (price erased) -- Cristofferus Fresping (?), who bought the Aristotle from Henricus. Both early owners have written marginal and interlinear notes -- Vienna, Benedictine Schottenkloster (stamp) -- 19th-century bibliographical notes on front endpaper.
FIRST EDITION of all texts, indeed of any work by Aristotle. Many of his philosophical works were known to medieval readers in Latin translation, but Bruni's new versions set a humanistic standard for elegant style and philological accuracy. To the many city-states in Renaissance Italy the Politics was of particular significance. In his dedicatory letter to the Pope, Bruni argues that the Greek philosopher's Ethics and Politics are consonant with Christian morals and teaching. His translation of the Nicomachean Ethics came first (1416), followed by the spurious Economics in 1420-21, while Politics is one of his latest productions (1438). Hundreds of manuscripts of these Aristotelian translations survive and Mentelin's edition is one of the earliest classical texts published in Northern Europe, demonstrating that a wide public for them needed to be reached.
Bruni's Aristotle is the first in a short series of classical first editions produced by the first Strassburg press. The ante quem date derives from a purchase inscription in a copy at Cambridge, University Library. The collation of the Seilern copy agrees with that given in GW and with the BnF copy (cf. BMC for differences). FINE COPY. H *1762; GW 2367; BMC I, 53 (IB. 579); CIBN A-512; BSB-Ink. A-685; Goff A-483. On Bruni's translations and opinions of Aristotle, see N.G. Wilson, From Byzantium to Italy passim.
Chancery 2° (281 x 207mm). Collation: [1-2
Ten-, seven-, six- and three-line initial spaces. 20 large preface and book initials and three-quarter floral border on first page illuminated in colours (no gold) by a contemporary German artist (middle or upper Rhine), two large interlocking initials in red-and-blue penwork, smaller initials in red or blue, manuscript headlines in red, initial guide-letters in brown ink. Only a few rubrics, no capital-strokes. (Minor worming, some flaking of illumination, border just shaved at foot.) 18th-century German vellum binding, red sprinkled edges (slightly worn and soiled). Provenance: Henricus Schruckl de Spalt, purchase inscription dated October 1476 (price erased) -- Cristofferus Fresping (?), who bought the Aristotle from Henricus. Both early owners have written marginal and interlinear notes -- Vienna, Benedictine Schottenkloster (stamp) -- 19th-century bibliographical notes on front endpaper.
FIRST EDITION of all texts, indeed of any work by Aristotle. Many of his philosophical works were known to medieval readers in Latin translation, but Bruni's new versions set a humanistic standard for elegant style and philological accuracy. To the many city-states in Renaissance Italy the Politics was of particular significance. In his dedicatory letter to the Pope, Bruni argues that the Greek philosopher's Ethics and Politics are consonant with Christian morals and teaching. His translation of the Nicomachean Ethics came first (1416), followed by the spurious Economics in 1420-21, while Politics is one of his latest productions (1438). Hundreds of manuscripts of these Aristotelian translations survive and Mentelin's edition is one of the earliest classical texts published in Northern Europe, demonstrating that a wide public for them needed to be reached.
Bruni's Aristotle is the first in a short series of classical first editions produced by the first Strassburg press. The ante quem date derives from a purchase inscription in a copy at Cambridge, University Library. The collation of the Seilern copy agrees with that given in GW and with the BnF copy (cf. BMC for differences). FINE COPY. H *1762; GW 2367; BMC I, 53 (IB. 579); CIBN A-512; BSB-Ink. A-685; Goff A-483. On Bruni's translations and opinions of Aristotle, see N.G. Wilson, From Byzantium to Italy passim.
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