THE PROPERTY OF THE LATE 18TH EARL OF DERBY, M.C., D.L.
SOLD BY ORDER OF THE EXECUTORS
SIMPLICIUS (b. ca. 500 - d. after 533). In Aristotelis categorica scholia Simplicii, in Greek. Venice: Zacharias Callierges, for Nicolaus Blastus, 27 October 1499.
Details
SIMPLICIUS (b. ca. 500 - d. after 533). In Aristotelis categorica scholia Simplicii, in Greek. Venice: Zacharias Callierges, for Nicolaus Blastus, 27 October 1499.
Median 2° (304 x 205mm). Collation: Α10 \KB-U\k8 Φ6 (Α1r title and Blastus device, Α1v blank, Α2r headpiece, initial and heading, text, Φ5v colophon, Φ6r register, Callierges device, Φ6v blank). 168 leaves. 37 lines. Type: 1:121Gk. Woodcut vinework headpiece on Α2r, woodcut Byzantine-style initials opening each book (except on Α9v), diagrams, Blastus device on title and Callierges device at end. Title, headings, and Blastos device and ornamental initials PRINTED IN RED. (Short tear in title repaired, some light spotting, 2 tiny wormholes in last 2 leaves touching a few letters only, first and last pages lightly soiled.) 19th-century English red morocco gilt with Derby supralibros on front cover, gilt spine in compartments, gilt turn-ins, gilt edges (extremities scuffed). Provenance: early marginal annotations in Greek on first few leaves; Naples, Jesuit College (title inscription); Earls of Derby (supralibros).
EDITIO PRINCEPS. One of the most famous representatives of Neoplatonism in the 6th century and a student of Ammonius Hermiae at Alexandria, Simplicius wrote a number of exhaustive and influential commentaries on the works of Aristotle. In his analysis of a text Simplicius interpreted it "in the light of the whole history of Greek philosophy" (DSB), and attempted to reconcile Aristotle and Plato by reducing their differences to a matter of vocubulary or point of view. This process of reconciliation continued in the Neoplatonic revival in the Renaissance, as attested by a manuscript of what may have been lectures given by Ficino as a student in which he stresses the near agreement in their philosophy (Kristeller, Studies in Renaissance thought and letters, Rome: 1956, p.42)
The Simplicius is one of only 4 books printed by Callierges for Blastus. Callierges worked for 5 years developing the fine Greek type. It differed from the Aldine Greek fount by casting accents in one piece with the letter to create different sorts, an invention of which Blasus boasted as "a thing never yet so well achieved", when applying for a privilege to protect all books printed with the type (BMC V, liv). The partnership also boasted of employing nearly all Cretans or Greeks, and of sometimes printing in gold by a technique now thought to be similar to that used in gold-tooling leather (V. Carter, L. Hellinga, and T. Parker, "Printing with gold in the fifteenth century," British Library Journal, IX, 1983, pp.1-13). BMC V, 580; XII, 42 (IB. 24737-40); Polain(B) 3550; Essling 1185; Sander 6998; Goff S-535.
Median 2° (304 x 205mm). Collation: Α10 \KB-U\k8 Φ6 (Α1r title and Blastus device, Α1v blank, Α2r headpiece, initial and heading, text, Φ5v colophon, Φ6r register, Callierges device, Φ6v blank). 168 leaves. 37 lines. Type: 1:121Gk. Woodcut vinework headpiece on Α2r, woodcut Byzantine-style initials opening each book (except on Α9v), diagrams, Blastus device on title and Callierges device at end. Title, headings, and Blastos device and ornamental initials PRINTED IN RED. (Short tear in title repaired, some light spotting, 2 tiny wormholes in last 2 leaves touching a few letters only, first and last pages lightly soiled.) 19th-century English red morocco gilt with Derby supralibros on front cover, gilt spine in compartments, gilt turn-ins, gilt edges (extremities scuffed). Provenance: early marginal annotations in Greek on first few leaves; Naples, Jesuit College (title inscription); Earls of Derby (supralibros).
EDITIO PRINCEPS. One of the most famous representatives of Neoplatonism in the 6th century and a student of Ammonius Hermiae at Alexandria, Simplicius wrote a number of exhaustive and influential commentaries on the works of Aristotle. In his analysis of a text Simplicius interpreted it "in the light of the whole history of Greek philosophy" (DSB), and attempted to reconcile Aristotle and Plato by reducing their differences to a matter of vocubulary or point of view. This process of reconciliation continued in the Neoplatonic revival in the Renaissance, as attested by a manuscript of what may have been lectures given by Ficino as a student in which he stresses the near agreement in their philosophy (Kristeller, Studies in Renaissance thought and letters, Rome: 1956, p.42)
The Simplicius is one of only 4 books printed by Callierges for Blastus. Callierges worked for 5 years developing the fine Greek type. It differed from the Aldine Greek fount by casting accents in one piece with the letter to create different sorts, an invention of which Blasus boasted as "a thing never yet so well achieved", when applying for a privilege to protect all books printed with the type (BMC V, liv). The partnership also boasted of employing nearly all Cretans or Greeks, and of sometimes printing in gold by a technique now thought to be similar to that used in gold-tooling leather (V. Carter, L. Hellinga, and T. Parker, "Printing with gold in the fifteenth century," British Library Journal, IX, 1983, pp.1-13). BMC V, 580; XII, 42 (IB. 24737-40); Polain(B) 3550; Essling 1185; Sander 6998; Goff S-535.