Sophocles, Tragodiai, Venice, Aldo Manuzio, 1502, Parisian straight-grained red morocco gilt by Bozérian Jeune

Sophocles. Sophocleous Tragodiai hepta metexegeseon [Greek]. Sophoclis Tragaediae septem cum commentariis. Venice: Aldo Manuzio, August 1502

A third copy of the editio princeps of Sophocles. Bozerian bound at least two other copies of this work in similar red morocco, one for Jean-Baptiste-Théodore Sensier (b. 1779; notary in Paris from 1 October 1806 to 1 March 1821), sold at Lacoste & Galliot, Paris, "Catalogue des livres rares et précieux composant la bibliothèque de M. S*** membre de la Société des Bibliophiles Français," 15 April–5 May 1828, lot 610 ("mar. r. dent. t. d. Bozerian jeune. Très bel exempl. de cette première et rare édition"); and another for Guglielmo Bruto Icilio Tirnoleone, Count Libri (Libri-Carrucci) (1803–1869), sold at Sotheby's London, "Catalogue of the Choicer Portion of the Magnificent Library formed by M. Guglielmo Libri, 1–15 August 1859, lot 2517 ("fine copy in red morocco, gilt edges, by Bozerian Jeune").

8vo (162 x 98 mm). Greek type, with some Roman and italic, 30 lines plus headline. collation: α–γ⁸ δ⁴ ε–η⁸ θ⁴ ι–λ⁸ μ⁴ ν–σ⁸ τ¹⁰ υ–φ⁸ χ¹⁰ ψ–ω⁸ αα⁸ ββ⁴: 196 leaves (δ4, θ4, and χ10 blank). Woodcut Aldine device on ββ4v, section-titles, four-line initial spaces with guide letters. (A very little light scattered marginal staining and foxing.)

binding: Parisian straight-grained red morocco (169 x 112 mm) by Bozérian Jeune (François Bozerian; active 1802–1818), covers with border of two gilt fillets, inner corners gilt with large floral and arabesque cornerpieces on closely "pointillé" ground, spine in six compartments, second and third gilt-lettered, others with densely gilt-tooled floral sprays, sky-blue moiré linings with gilt dentelles of palmetto and vine-leaf, vellum fly-leaves, edges gilt. (Slightest rubbing to edges.)

provenance: Unidentified owner, sixteenth-century inscription "Peschens [Pesolens?]" on title-page — Charterhouse at Sens, inscription (ruled through) on title-page — unidentified owner, inscription "Amicus Tassin dabat amico de Malmain," possibly René-Prosper Tassin (1697–1777) — Martin Breslauer, Inc., New York; Catalogue 107: Italy, Part II (New York, [1984]), item 274 ($6600). acquisition: Purchased from Martin Breslauer, Inc., New York, 1985. references: UCLA 60; Adams S1438; Aldo Manuzio tipografo 62; Edit16 36139; Grolier/Aldus 36, 37; Renouard 34/6; USTC 857020