Details
CATHARINA SENENSIS (St., 1347-80). Epistole con alcune orazioni. Edited by Bartolommeo da Alzano. Venice: Aldus Manutius, "15" [not before 19] September 1500.
Super-chancery 2° (312 x 211mm). Collation: *10 a-y8 A-G8 H10 I-N8 O10 P-Z AA-FF8 (*1r title, *1v dedicatory letter by Aldus to Cardinal Francesco de Piccolomini, letter of Stephanus, abbot of the Charterhouse at Pavia, *8r table, *10v woodcut, a1r letters to religious figures, E8v blank, F1r letters to secular figures, CC8r orations, FF6v poem by Nastagio di Ser Guido da Monte Alcino, FF7v memorials of St. Catherine, FF8r register and colophon, FF8v blank). 422 leaves. 40 lines. Type: 115R; 10:82R, 80 italic (2 inscriptions on illustration). Large woodcut of St. Catherine with inset captions in type, ornamental woodcut initials from several sets. (Occasional very light stain, single tiny wormhole in first 3 leaves and final quires touching an occasional letter.) 18th-century vellum, flat spine gilt with red leather label (tiny splits at hinges), red speckled edges. Provenance: John Sneyd (bookplate).
FIRST COMPLETE EDITION. This book famously contains the first appearance of any italic type, incorporated as inscriptions in the woodcut. This fount was cut by the writing-master Francesco Griffo and modelled on several humanist hands, including Aldus's own. The cut is probably by the Poliphilo Master (see Hind 494) and apparently illustrates only this edition. HCR 4688; GW 6222; BMC V, 562 (IB. 24504-6); Goff C-281; Pellechet 3388; IDL 1175; IGI 2587; Essling 1230; Sander 1821.
Super-chancery 2° (312 x 211mm). Collation: *10 a-y8 A-G8 H10 I-N8 O10 P-Z AA-FF8 (*1r title, *1v dedicatory letter by Aldus to Cardinal Francesco de Piccolomini, letter of Stephanus, abbot of the Charterhouse at Pavia, *8r table, *10v woodcut, a1r letters to religious figures, E8v blank, F1r letters to secular figures, CC8r orations, FF6v poem by Nastagio di Ser Guido da Monte Alcino, FF7v memorials of St. Catherine, FF8r register and colophon, FF8v blank). 422 leaves. 40 lines. Type: 115R; 10:82R, 80 italic (2 inscriptions on illustration). Large woodcut of St. Catherine with inset captions in type, ornamental woodcut initials from several sets. (Occasional very light stain, single tiny wormhole in first 3 leaves and final quires touching an occasional letter.) 18th-century vellum, flat spine gilt with red leather label (tiny splits at hinges), red speckled edges. Provenance: John Sneyd (bookplate).
FIRST COMPLETE EDITION. This book famously contains the first appearance of any italic type, incorporated as inscriptions in the woodcut. This fount was cut by the writing-master Francesco Griffo and modelled on several humanist hands, including Aldus's own. The cut is probably by the Poliphilo Master (see Hind 494) and apparently illustrates only this edition. HCR 4688; GW 6222; BMC V, 562 (IB. 24504-6); Goff C-281; Pellechet 3388; IDL 1175; IGI 2587; Essling 1230; Sander 1821.