Details
STRABO (64/63 B.C.-ca. 25 A.D.). De situ orbis, in Greek. Edited by Benedictus Tyrrhenus 15/16th century). Venice: Andreas Torresanus at the Aldine Press, November 1516.
Aldine 2° (310 x 218 mm). Collation: π8 2π6 aα-zψ8. 198 leaves. Types 79 Greek, 90 Greek, and 80 italic cut by Francesco Griffo. Woodcut headpieces, typographical headings and 10- or 11-line woodcut vine-work initials opening each book printed in red, Aldine device on title and verso of final leaf. (Very light dampstain at upper edge, fol. e1 with slight press damage.) Early vellum wrapper, author's name lettered along spine and fore-edge (discreet repair to front cover, missing two pairs of fore-edge ties).
EDITIO PRINCEPS of one of the earliest and most important scientific treatises of historical geography. Based on the work of the first systematic geographer, Eratosthenes, De situ orbis also draws on Strabo's own travels. It is particularly strong in its descriptions of the Roman Empire, the Middle East and India, and somewhat weaker on northern Europe and Asia. The manuscript which the editor had at his disposal was not authoritative, but Tyrrheno and Torresano decided to print it in response to Marcus Musurus's exhortation to print texts, such as Strabo, which he considered in danger of being lost (see N.G. Wilson, From Byzantium to Italy, 1992). Remarkably, Strabo was not known to the Romans, not even to Pliny the Elder.
Francesco Griffo's elegant italic type was used to print the editor's dedication to Alberto Pio.
Adams S-1903; Hoffmann III, 453; Renouard Alde 77.7.
Aldine 2° (310 x 218 mm). Collation: π8 2π6 aα-zψ8. 198 leaves. Types 79 Greek, 90 Greek, and 80 italic cut by Francesco Griffo. Woodcut headpieces, typographical headings and 10- or 11-line woodcut vine-work initials opening each book printed in red, Aldine device on title and verso of final leaf. (Very light dampstain at upper edge, fol. e1 with slight press damage.) Early vellum wrapper, author's name lettered along spine and fore-edge (discreet repair to front cover, missing two pairs of fore-edge ties).
EDITIO PRINCEPS of one of the earliest and most important scientific treatises of historical geography. Based on the work of the first systematic geographer, Eratosthenes, De situ orbis also draws on Strabo's own travels. It is particularly strong in its descriptions of the Roman Empire, the Middle East and India, and somewhat weaker on northern Europe and Asia. The manuscript which the editor had at his disposal was not authoritative, but Tyrrheno and Torresano decided to print it in response to Marcus Musurus's exhortation to print texts, such as Strabo, which he considered in danger of being lost (see N.G. Wilson, From Byzantium to Italy, 1992). Remarkably, Strabo was not known to the Romans, not even to Pliny the Elder.
Francesco Griffo's elegant italic type was used to print the editor's dedication to Alberto Pio.
Adams S-1903; Hoffmann III, 453; Renouard Alde 77.7.