Valerius Maximus, Dictorum et factorum memorabilium, [Lyon, Baldazare de Gabiano?, 1503], contemporary French (?) brown blind stamped calf

Valerius Maximus. Dictorum rum [sic] et factorum memorabilia libri novem. [Lyon: Baldazare de Gabiano?, 1502 or 1503]

One of several Lyonese counterfeits of the Aldine edition of Oct. 1502; this edition not in Shaw. This edition may have appeared before the second issue of April 1503, as it does not contain the 24 exempla added by Aldo to that edition. The collation of this edition corresponds to UCLC 1118 [or 1118A], but those copies have a different typesetting of the title, without the erroneously repeated “rum,” which appears to be unrecorded.

8vo (150 x 96 mm). Italic type, 30 lines plus headline. collation: π⁴ A-Z⁸ aa-cc⁸: 212 leaves (cc8 blank). (A few small rust and wormholes to title, light staining and spotting, a few small wormholes and repairs, paper flaw at lower corner of Z6.)

binding: Contemporary French (?) brown blind stamped calf over wooden boards (152 x 101 mm), triple fillets around sides, miters to rectangular frame within triple fillets containing arabesque roll, spine with two full bands, covered by 17^th century vellum strip, bearing a manuscript title and shelfmark "D 48" in black ink, traces of two clasps. (Very worn.)

provenance: Unidentified owner, contemporary marginalia throughout liber III — Philobiblon Auctions, Rome, 2 December 2015, lot 553. acquisition: Purchased from Mayfair Rare Books and Manuscripts Ltd (Paolo Rambaldi), London, 2021. references: Cf. USTC 142859; UCLA 1118 [or 1118A]; Adams V-84; Baudrier VII:14; Renouard 307/14.