Poetae Christiani veteres, poetae Opera, Venice, Aldo Manuzio, January 1501, Wittenberg pigskin over wooden boards, dated 1549

Poetae Christiani veteres. Prudentii poetae Opera. Virtutum cum uitiis pugna, heroico carmine. Hymni diurnarum rerum, ad Gallicantum. Ad matutinum. Ante cibum. Post cibum. Ad lucernae accensionem. Ante somnum … Venice: Aldo Manuzio, January 1501

First volume only.

4to (215 x 145 mm). Roman and Greek type, 37 lines plus headline. collation: π⁸ ff-gg⁸ hh¹⁰ ii-xx⁸ yy^{10 2}hh-ii^{8 2}kk⁶ aı10.8 2b^8.8 c3^10.8 4d^6.6 (²kk6 a blank): 234 leaves. Early marginalia. (Worming, scattered dampstaining, occasional browning.)

binding: Wittenberg pigskin over wooden boards (230 x 165 mm), dated 1549, border with portrait medallions of Luther, Hus, Erasmus, Melanchthon, interspersed with floral ornaments, three center vertical rolls, one of lilies, others with portraits of Justicia and Lucretia, dated 1546, and signed H.C. (i.e. Hans Cantzler of Wittenberg, Haebler, p. 72, Rollen 5), winged angel heads flanking "E.M." and below "1549", two pairs of clasps, spine with raised bands in four four compartments. (Worming and soiling.)

provenance: Initials "E.M." and date "1549" on upper cover — Sir Peter Henry Berry Otway Smithers (1913-2006); his sale (lots 117-207), Sotheby's London, 5-6 February 1973, lot 118 (part: offered with lot 1332) — Francis Edwards, London, purchased in previous sale. acquisition: Purchased from Francis Edwards, London, 1973. references: UCLA 38; Renouard 24/1; Edit16 36115; USTC 851458