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POLITIANUS, Angelo Ambrogini (1454-1494). Miscellaneorum centuria prima. Florence: Antonio di Bartolommeo Miscomini, 19 September 1489.
First edition of ‘the apex of humanism’ (PMM). ‘Politian in his short life (…) saw the movement of humanistic scholarship reach its climax; in him, through his friendship with Lorenzo the Magnificent, it found its finest form. This Miscellany consists of translations and fragments of the classics in which his penetration and understanding of them may be seen.’ (PMM 34). This publication initiated a genre of printed works in which the discussion and emendation of selected Latin and Greek texts take the place of a large-scale commentary of one author. The list of consulted authors that follows the author’s preface demonstrates a precision of referencing that was highly unusual at the time. HC *13221; GW M34760; BMC VI 638; BSB-Ink P-662; Goff P890; PMM 32.
Chancery folio (262 x 190mm). With the 2-leaf ‘Emendationes’. Printer’s device in colophon, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-line initial spaces with guide letters (occasional discreet repairs mostly at end). 19th-century red morocco, lettered in gilt on spine, edges and inner dentelles gilt, marbled endpapers (very lightly rubbed). Provenance: early annotations, mostly adding accents to the Greek and occasional corrections to the Latin text– Bishop John Vertue (1826-1900, first Catholic bishop of Portsmouth; bookplate) – paper library label in corner of upper cover – old bookseller’s printed description on endpaper — Michael Sharpe (book label).
First edition of ‘the apex of humanism’ (PMM). ‘Politian in his short life (…) saw the movement of humanistic scholarship reach its climax; in him, through his friendship with Lorenzo the Magnificent, it found its finest form. This Miscellany consists of translations and fragments of the classics in which his penetration and understanding of them may be seen.’ (PMM 34). This publication initiated a genre of printed works in which the discussion and emendation of selected Latin and Greek texts take the place of a large-scale commentary of one author. The list of consulted authors that follows the author’s preface demonstrates a precision of referencing that was highly unusual at the time. HC *13221; GW M34760; BMC VI 638; BSB-Ink P-662; Goff P890; PMM 32.
Chancery folio (262 x 190mm). With the 2-leaf ‘Emendationes’. Printer’s device in colophon, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-line initial spaces with guide letters (occasional discreet repairs mostly at end). 19th-century red morocco, lettered in gilt on spine, edges and inner dentelles gilt, marbled endpapers (very lightly rubbed). Provenance: early annotations, mostly adding accents to the Greek and occasional corrections to the Latin text– Bishop John Vertue (1826-1900, first Catholic bishop of Portsmouth; bookplate) – paper library label in corner of upper cover – old bookseller’s printed description on endpaper — Michael Sharpe (book label).
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