Sigonio, Pro eloquentia orationes IIII, Venice, [Paolo Manuzio], 1555, nineteenth-century three-quarter olive morocco

Sigonio, Carlo. Caroli Sigonii Pro eloquentia orationes IIII. Venice: [Paolo Manuzio], 1555

Original edition of four prolusions, academic orations delivered by Sigonio during his first years of teaching in the Scuola di San Marco in Venice, defending eloquentia, which for Sigonio meant the three humanistic disciplines of rhetoric, poetry, and ancient history. They are preceded by his address to the Venetian senator Domenico Morosini.

4to (191 x 128 mm). Roman type, 28 lines plus headline. collation: a⁴ A-H⁴: 36 leaves. Woodcut Aldine device to title-page, historiated initials. (Light spotting, first couple of leaves slightly toned, lacking final blank.)

binding: Nineteenth-century three-quarter olive morocco on brown boards (196 x 134 mm), spine gilt, brown speckled edges. (Lightly rubbed at joints and corners.)

provenance: Hon. George Matthew Fortescue (1791-1877) — by descent to his only son, John Bevill Fortescue (1850-1938) — by descent to his son John Grenville Fortescue (1896-1969) — by descent to John Desmond Grenville Fortescue (1919- 2017); his sale, Christie's London, 24 March 1971, lot 178; purchased by — William Salloch, Ossining, NY. acquisition: Purchased from William Salloch, Ossining, NY, 1976. references: UCLA 485; Renouard 165/8; Edit16 28005; USTC 856322