Philostratus, De vita Apollonii Tyanei, [Lyon, Guillaume Huyon and/or/for Baldazare de Gabiano?, 1504–1505?], contemporary Italian brown morocco

Philostratus, Flavius. Phylostratus De vita Apollonii Tyanei scriptor luculentus a Philippo Beroaldo castigatus. [Lyon: Guillaume Huyon and/or/for Baldazare de Gabiano?, 1504–1505?]

This edition of Philostratus's Life of Apollonius of Tyana has traditionally been considered an Aldine counterfeit, although it is not based on any previous Aldo publication; Aldo's edition of the text was a folio (see preceding two lots). Shaw decribes it as "Not an Aldine counterfeit: a copy of one of Beroaldo's editions, Bologna, 1501 or 1505." This is a faithful reissue of Beroaldo's text, even including his dedication. While it is conventionally ascribed to the press of Baldazare de Gabiano who introduced italic (and many Aldine forgeries) to Lyon, the compilers of the Ahmanson-Murphy catalogue have more recently suggested Guillaume Huyon as the probably printer.

8vo (168 x 96 mm). Italic type, 29 lines plus headline. collation: π⁴ a–z⁸ A–B⁸ C⁶: 209 (of 210) leaves (lacking terminal blank C6). Three-, six-, and seven-line initial spaces with guide letters. (Title-page soiled, patched in lower third [from excision of inscription?], and with fore-edge margin restored, fore-edge corners dampstained and worn throughout, a few leaves with marginal losses, none affecting text, some soiling throughout.)

binding: Contemporary Italian brown morocco over thin wooden boards (174 x 102 mm), covers panelled in blind with fillets and an arabesque tool, central panels with gilt arabesque and gilt floral cornerpieces, spine in four compartments, plain (recent) endpapers and edges. (Extensively restored, especially board edges and spine, two new clasps catching on front.)

provenance: "Andree Torsii," sixteenth-/seventeenth-century inscription on title-page (possibly Andreas Torsius medicus, fl. Florence), with other notations and pen-trials — Alan G. Thomas, Catalogue 20 (London, 1968), item 328 (£25). acquisition: Purchased from Alan G. Thomas, London, 1970. references: UCLA 1124; Aldo Manuzio tipografo 134.13; Baudrier, VII:15; FB 82834; Renouard 307/16; Shaw 17; USTC 143138