Ovidius Naso, Ouidii Metamorphoseon libri XV, Venice, Aldo Manuzio, October 1502, Italian brown morocco, ca. 1510

Ovidius Naso, Publius. Ouidii Metamorphoseon libri XV. Venice: Aldo Manuzio, October 1502

A third copy.

The tripartite tool in the corners of each panel is similar to tools used in Rome by the “Sanvito Binder” ca. 1500 (Hobson, Humanists, p. 85 figs. 69-70), and on a binding in the British Library “possibly made in Rome, ca. 1510 or later” (De Marinis 610; Foot, Davis Gift, III, no. 247). The Sanvito Binder’s neo-classic style exerted a wide influence and in a private communication to the present owner, Anthony Hobson proposed Florence as the place of binding.

8vo (160 x 98 mm). Italic type, 30 lines plus headline. collation: a-h^{8 2}a-z⁸ A-B⁸ C⁴ (h8 a blank): 268 leaves. Woodcut Aldine device on title-page, early manuscript pagination and marginalia. (Title stained, repaired wormtracks in 15 preliminary leaves, marginal staining.)

binding: Italian brown morocco over pasteboards (167 x 105 mm), probably Florentine, ca. 1510, richly gilt and paneled in blind, gilt title OVI.METAMO in center of upper cover, traces of four pairs of green fabric ties, spine with raised bands in three compartments, edges gilt and gauffered. (Extremities rubbed, joints starting.)

provenance: "Ex libris S. Domenici Ancon" at foot of title-page (washed, with two lines illegible) — inscription "Compagno" on front free endpaper — Francesco Bubani (1809-1890), ex libris — Leo S. Olschki, Venice, booksellers' ticket — Michael Tomkinson (1841-1921), ex libris; his sale, Sotheby's London, 3-6 April 1922, lot 677 — James Tregaskis, London, purchased in previous sale (£15 15s) — John Roland Abbey (1894-1969), purchased 10 June 1939; his sale, Sotheby's London, 21-23 June 1965, lot 527 — Bernard Quaritch, London, purchased in previous sale (£220); Catalogue 876 (London 1967), item 176 & Pl. 4 (£350); Catalogue 897 (London 1969), item 217 (£350) — William Salloch, his sale, Christie's London, 31 October-1 November 1991, lot 203 (realized £2400). acquisition: Purchased at Christie's via Marlborough Rare Books. references: UCLA 66; Renouard 37/12; Edit16 55826; USTC 845656