Oratores Graeci, Logoi toutoni ton retoron, Venice, Aldo Manuzio & Andrea Torresano, May 1513, contemporary vellum

Oratores Graeci. Logoi toutoni ton retoron. Aiskinou. Lysiou. Alkidamantos … Orationes horum rhetorum Aeschinis. Lysiae. Alcidamantis [part 2:] Logoi toutoni ton retoron. Andokidou. Isaiou. Deinarchou. Antiphontos … Orationes infrascriptorum rhetorum. Andocidis. Isaei. Dinarchi. Antiphontis … [part 3:] Isokratous logoi. Alkidamantos, kata sophiston Gorgiou, Elenes egkomion … Isocratis orationes. Alcidamantis contra dicendi magistros. Gorgiae de laudibus Helenae. Aristidis de laudibus Athenarum. Eiusdem de laudibus vrbis Romae [Greek]. Venice: Aldo Manuzio & Andrea Torresano, May 1513

The editiones principes of the works of the Greek orators are gathered in this volume, with the exception of Demosthenes, which Aldo had already issued in 1504. (For Demosthenes, see Bibliotheca Brookeriana, The Aldine Collection D–M, lot 676; New York, 18 October 2024.)

The title-page for the first part of the text was printed and its verso left blank for Aldo's prefatory letter to Francesco Fassolo, 6 May 1513. But the preface proved too long for a single page, necessitating the addition of a further bifolium, without pagination or signature, which was wrapped around leaves a2 and a7. The second leaf of this sheet bore no text proper, only an instruction to the binder on the recto, in both Greek and Latin, to excise the leaf. Since the Brooker copy, like the Clemons copy exhibited at the Grolier Club in Aldus Manutius: A Legacy More Lasting than Bronze, "retains its original binding, no doubt executed by a binder who read neither language, the 'intentionally blank' leaf [usually missing] remains intact."

Three volumes in one, folio (302 x 202 mm). Greek type, with some Roman, 48 lines plus headline. (Vol. 3 [bound first]:) collation: a–m⁸ n⁴ AA–DD⁸ EE⁴: 136 paginated leaves (n4 blank). Woodcut Aldine device on title-page and EE4v, five- and seven-line initial spaces with guide letters. (Vol. 1 [bound second]:) collation: a⁸ (a1+χ2) b–m⁸ n⁴: 102 paginated leaves (bifolium a[χ1.2] wrapped around a2.7; n4 blank). Woodcut Aldine device on title-page, three- to five-line initial spaces with guide letters. (vol. 2 [bound third]:) collation: aaa–iii⁸ kkk¹⁰: 82 paginated leaves. Woodcut Aldine device on title-page, three- to seven-line initial spaces with guide letters. (Vol. 3: mm1.8 & 2.7 and EE1.4 browned, a few small marginal wormholes to first few leaves; Vol. 2: fff4.5 and gg2.7 browned.)

binding: Contemporary vellum over stiff boards (310 x, 209 mm), five rawhide bands piercing covers at spine, wide overlapping fore-edges, title ink-lettered on spine, reading down, "Orat: Grec:," traces of four pairs of chamois ties, plain endpapers and edges, Greek title ink-lettered on lower edge. (Soiled, a few small marginal chips, front inner hinge open revealing fourteenth-century manuscript binding supports but binding secure.) Brown cloth folding-case, russet morocco label.

provenance: Unidentified owner, contemporary marginalia — unidentified owner, inkstamp on title-page (obscured). acquisition: Purchased from Martin Breslauer, Inc., New York, 1984. references: UCLA 112; Adams O244; Aldo Manuzio tipografo 114*–114***; Edit16 37441; Grolier/Aldus 18; Renouard 60/2; USTC 800362