[Laire], Serie dell'edizioni aldine, Pisa, Raffaelli, 1790, contemporary vellum-backed speckled boards

[Laire, François Xavier]. Serie dell'edizioni aldine per ordine cronologico ed alfabetico. Pisa: Luigi Raffaelli, 1790

[Bound with:] Barthélemy Mercier de Saint-Léger. Notice de deux anciens catalogues des éditions d'Alde Manuce et de deux autres pièces intéressantes, imprimées par cet artiste célèbre, adressées à MM. les auteurs du Journal des Sçavans par M. l'Abbé de Saint-Leger, Paris, le 29 mars 1790. [Paris: n.p., 1790]

The first bibliography of the Aldine press. "The opening sentence of the preface in the first three editions of this work makes it clear that 'this is not a catalogue of books printed by the Aldine Press, but a collection intended to lead to a more complete and disciplined study.' The list of Aldine imprints is based on the collection of Cardinal Étienne-Charles de Loménie de Brienne (1727–1794), whose librarian François Xavier Laire (1738–1799) is the anonymous, attributed author, or compiler, of the work" (Grolier/Aldus).

2 works in one volumes, 12mo (179 x 96 mm). Serie dell'edizioni aldine: Roman and italic types. collation: A-L¹² M-N⁶: 144 leaves. Woodcut title vignette, extensive contemporary and later marginalia. Notice de deux anciens catalogues: Roman and italic types, 25 lines. collation: A¹²: 12 leaves. 6pp. manuscript at rear titled Supplément à la Table des Auteurs, et des matières, pour les articles manuscrits ajoutés au catalogue des editions Aldines. (First two leaves inserted on stub, light marginal toning.)

binding: Contemporary vellum-backed speckled boards (186 x 106 mm), later brown morocco spine label, yellow edges. (Rubbed, upper joint cracked, later endpapers, front free endpaper lacking.)

provenance: Unidentified owner, contemporary marginalia in brown ink including additions to list and names of various eighteenth-century Paris sales — unidentified owner, marginalia in pencil, in French, referring to the 1825 edition of Renouard, many subscribed "E.P." — unidentified owner, marginalia in pencil, in English, with marks indicating possession of the edition mentioned. references: (1) UCLA 1185; Giuseppe Ottino & Giuseppe Fumagalli, Bibliotheca bibliographica Italica (Rome 1889-1902), 514; Grolier/Aldus 137; Lamberto Donati, "Bibliografia Aldina," in La Bibliofilía 52 (1950), pp. 188-204 no. 23 (2) Lamberto Donati, "Bibliografia Aldina," in La Bibliofilía 52 (1950), pp. 188-204 no. 22 ("Estr. Da: 'Journal des Savants', Paris")