Details
ARISTOPHANES. [Greek:] Comaediae novem cum commentariis antiquiis [edited by S. Gelenius. Basel: Froben 1547. Folio, 324 x 217 mm. (12 3/4 x 8 1/2 in.), contemporary calf, gilt-tooled roundel with floral tools set within three blind-impressed concentric circles at center of covers, upper cover with "Aristophanis Comaediae" lettered in gilt capitals within a rectangular cartouche terminating in flower and leaf tooling, flat spine richly gilt-tooled, board edges gilt, g.e., parchment manuscript comb lining visible through upepr pastedown, rebacked, original spine laid down, restorations to covers and board edges, upper inner hinge cracked, scattered foxing. Text and commentary in Greek letter, printer's woodcut device on verso of last leaf, woodcut initials and arabesque headpieces. Adams A-1712.
Possibly a Lyonese binding: a similar design of a gilt roundel framed by blind concentric circles is found on a group of bindings from the collection of the sixteenth-century Lyonese collector Benoît Le Court, now at the Lyons Municipal Library; however, the roundels in Le Court's books consist of wreaths filled in with his gilt arms, the outermost circles are of a smaller diameter than those on the present binding, and no tools appear to be shared.
Provenance: Henry Wheatley, engraved armorial bookplate -- Mme. Théophile Belin (sale, Paris, 12-20 February 1936, lot 24) -- E. P. Goldschmidt, morocco book label.
Possibly a Lyonese binding: a similar design of a gilt roundel framed by blind concentric circles is found on a group of bindings from the collection of the sixteenth-century Lyonese collector Benoît Le Court, now at the Lyons Municipal Library; however, the roundels in Le Court's books consist of wreaths filled in with his gilt arms, the outermost circles are of a smaller diameter than those on the present binding, and no tools appear to be shared.
Provenance: Henry Wheatley, engraved armorial bookplate -- Mme. Théophile Belin (sale, Paris, 12-20 February 1936, lot 24) -- E. P. Goldschmidt, morocco book label.