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De vita et moribus philosophorum. [Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, not after 1473.]
Details
BURLAEUS, Gualtherus (pseudo?, c.1275-1344)
De vita et moribus philosophorum. [Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, not after 1473.]
Third book printed by Koberger, and first edition of the shorter ‘South German’ recension of an important work of Classical reception. Long attributed to English logician Walter Burley, this treatise is a Medieval update to the ancient compilations of Lives by authors like Diogenes Laertes (indeed, some manuscripts containing it have been misdescribed as Laertes’ text). Borrowing not only from ancient sources but Medieval encyclopaedists like Vincent of Beauvais and John of Wales, it contains short biographies of 120 poets and philosophers including Archimedes, Virgil, Zoroaster, Homer, Plotinus, Priscian, Seneca, and even Hermes Trismegistus. This edition belongs to a group of five of the earliest books printed by Anton Koberger, among which priority has been established on the basis of paper evidence. H 4112*; GW 5785; BMC II 411; BSB-Ink B-993; Bod-inc B-610; Goff B-1319; ISTC ib01319000. See also J.I. Freeman, ‘Anton Koberger's First Books,’ Princeton University Library Chronicle 55 (1994), pp. 308-322.
Chancery folio (282 x 197mm). 91 leaves (of 94, without first and last two blanks). Large opening initial in both red and blue, smaller initials in alternating red and blue, red paragraph marks and initial strokes (faint soiling to first leaf, several leaves rehinged, tiny wormhole touching a few letters in first 5 leaves). Modern brown morocco, spine lettered in gilt, turn-ins gilt (somewhat rubbed). Provenance: [Sir R. Leicester Harmsworth (sale Sotheby’s, 1947, lot 3208)] – other printed sale descriptions tipped or pasted on to front endpaper – Clifford Rattey (bookplate) – W. Senn-Dürck, Basel-Riehen (1904-2001; booklabel); by descent.
De vita et moribus philosophorum. [Nuremberg: Anton Koberger, not after 1473.]
Third book printed by Koberger, and first edition of the shorter ‘South German’ recension of an important work of Classical reception. Long attributed to English logician Walter Burley, this treatise is a Medieval update to the ancient compilations of Lives by authors like Diogenes Laertes (indeed, some manuscripts containing it have been misdescribed as Laertes’ text). Borrowing not only from ancient sources but Medieval encyclopaedists like Vincent of Beauvais and John of Wales, it contains short biographies of 120 poets and philosophers including Archimedes, Virgil, Zoroaster, Homer, Plotinus, Priscian, Seneca, and even Hermes Trismegistus. This edition belongs to a group of five of the earliest books printed by Anton Koberger, among which priority has been established on the basis of paper evidence. H 4112*; GW 5785; BMC II 411; BSB-Ink B-993; Bod-inc B-610; Goff B-1319; ISTC ib01319000. See also J.I. Freeman, ‘Anton Koberger's First Books,’ Princeton University Library Chronicle 55 (1994), pp. 308-322.
Chancery folio (282 x 197mm). 91 leaves (of 94, without first and last two blanks). Large opening initial in both red and blue, smaller initials in alternating red and blue, red paragraph marks and initial strokes (faint soiling to first leaf, several leaves rehinged, tiny wormhole touching a few letters in first 5 leaves). Modern brown morocco, spine lettered in gilt, turn-ins gilt (somewhat rubbed). Provenance: [Sir R. Leicester Harmsworth (sale Sotheby’s, 1947, lot 3208)] – other printed sale descriptions tipped or pasted on to front endpaper – Clifford Rattey (bookplate) – W. Senn-Dürck, Basel-Riehen (1904-2001; booklabel); by descent.
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