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Details
TERENTIUS AFER, Publius (185-159 B.C.). Comoediae. With commentaries of Donatus and Guido Juvenalis, edited by Jodocus Badius Ascensius. Lyon: Johann Trechsel, 29 August 1493.
4o (239 x 164 mm). 2- to 4-line initial spaces, most with guide letters; woodcut portrait on the title-page, full-page woodcut showing a theatre, and 153 (of 159) half-page woodcuts of scenes (some blocks repeated). Collation: a-z8 &8 A-Q8. 305 (of 320) leaves, lacking leaves u1, u3-5, P6-8, and Q1-8 (including final blank). (Lacking 14 text leaves and final blank, leaves m3 and m4 misbound, internal cut across image on n4, hole in image on r6, some marginal soiling.) 17th-century blindstamped calf over pasteboard. Provenance: early inscription on title and some early marginalia; Nathaniel Wood (inscription on title dated 1715); William Charles de Meuron, Earl Fitzwilliam (1872-1943; bookplate and early ms. shelfmarks); acquired from John Fleming, 1962.
FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THE PLAYS OF TERENCE. "The high-water mark of book illustration at Lyon in the xv century is reached in the Terence Comoediae, printed by Johann Trechsel, 1493. The book opens with the fine full-page frontispiece representing the Theatre and the plays are illustrated with a variety of smaller oblong cuts, in which the actors are shown on the stage, disposed with a fine sense of design, and drawn with a vivid and humorous touch." It is probable that the designer was German or Netherlandish based on the style of illustration. Hind compares the style to Erhard Reuwich's illustrations for the original Mainz Breydenbach of 1486.
BMC VIII, 295; HC*15424; Polain 3666; Fairfax Murray French 528; Goff T-91.
4o (239 x 164 mm). 2- to 4-line initial spaces, most with guide letters; woodcut portrait on the title-page, full-page woodcut showing a theatre, and 153 (of 159) half-page woodcuts of scenes (some blocks repeated). Collation: a-z8 &8 A-Q8. 305 (of 320) leaves, lacking leaves u1, u3-5, P6-8, and Q1-8 (including final blank). (Lacking 14 text leaves and final blank, leaves m3 and m4 misbound, internal cut across image on n4, hole in image on r6, some marginal soiling.) 17th-century blindstamped calf over pasteboard. Provenance: early inscription on title and some early marginalia; Nathaniel Wood (inscription on title dated 1715); William Charles de Meuron, Earl Fitzwilliam (1872-1943; bookplate and early ms. shelfmarks); acquired from John Fleming, 1962.
FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THE PLAYS OF TERENCE. "The high-water mark of book illustration at Lyon in the xv century is reached in the Terence Comoediae, printed by Johann Trechsel, 1493. The book opens with the fine full-page frontispiece representing the Theatre and the plays are illustrated with a variety of smaller oblong cuts, in which the actors are shown on the stage, disposed with a fine sense of design, and drawn with a vivid and humorous touch." It is probable that the designer was German or Netherlandish based on the style of illustration. Hind compares the style to Erhard Reuwich's illustrations for the original Mainz Breydenbach of 1486.
BMC VIII, 295; HC*15424; Polain 3666; Fairfax Murray French 528; Goff T-91.