Details
MERULA, Georgius (c.1430-1494). De antiquitate Vicecomitum. Edited by Alexander Minutianus (c.1450-1522). [Milan: Guillermus Le Signerre, December 1499].
Chancery 2° (278 x 202mm). Collation: \Kp\ka6(1+\Kc\k2) a-z6 (\Kp\ka1 blank, \Kc\k1-2 editor's address to Otto Visconti, \Kp\ka2r author's address to Lodovico Sforza, \Kp\ka3r Defensio historiae, Periocha, \Kp\ka4r index, a1r text, z6v blank). 145 (of 146, without \Kp\ka1 blank) leaves. 39 lines and headline, shoulder notes. Type: 1:111R (text), 2:109Gk (text). 5- to 11-line initial spaces. (Light dampstaining, marginal to quire y, heavier in last 2 quires.) 19th-century marbled-paper pasteboards, flat spine with gilt orange paper label, paper shelflabel, blue end-papers (lightly rubbed). Provenance: early 19th-century bibliographic note.
FIRST EDITION. Merula, a notable Italian humanist and restorer of works by ancient authors, produced this work after being invited to Milan by Lodovico Sforza (il Moro) to write a history of the Visconti. Sforza instructed Merula to emphasise the kinship of his own family with the Visconti, and thereby gain imperial recognition and legitimacy for the Sforzas as dukes of Milan.
This book is sometimes erroneously dated after 1500 owing to the editor's dedication to Otto Visconti, in which he refers to the second occupation of Milan by the French in April 1500. As noted in BMC (reprint), however, the first two leaves containing the dedication consist of a single bifolium inserted into the first quire, no doubt added in light of the new political circumstances in Milan. HC *11095; BMC VI, 791 (IB. 26898); Polain(B) 2675; Pellechet Ms 7845 (7783); IGI 6375; Goff M-499.
Chancery 2° (278 x 202mm). Collation: \K
FIRST EDITION. Merula, a notable Italian humanist and restorer of works by ancient authors, produced this work after being invited to Milan by Lodovico Sforza (il Moro) to write a history of the Visconti. Sforza instructed Merula to emphasise the kinship of his own family with the Visconti, and thereby gain imperial recognition and legitimacy for the Sforzas as dukes of Milan.
This book is sometimes erroneously dated after 1500 owing to the editor's dedication to Otto Visconti, in which he refers to the second occupation of Milan by the French in April 1500. As noted in BMC (reprint), however, the first two leaves containing the dedication consist of a single bifolium inserted into the first quire, no doubt added in light of the new political circumstances in Milan. HC *11095; BMC VI, 791 (IB. 26898); Polain(B) 2675; Pellechet Ms 7845 (7783); IGI 6375; Goff M-499.
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