Arrianus, De expeditione sive rebus gestis Alexandri, Basel, 1539, Leipzig calf binding, Johannes Wolf copy

ARRIANUS, FLAVIUS. Αρριανου περι Αλεχανδρου αναβασεως ιστοριων βιβλια οκτω. Arriani de expeditione sive rebus gestis Alexandri Macedonum Regiae libri octo, nuper & reperiti, & quam diligentissime in lucem editi. Basel: (Robert Winter, March 1539)

Another copy, also without the Latin translation, annotated by the Zurich theologian Johannes Wolf, who studied in Tübingen, Strassburg, Marburg and Leipzig before becoming an influential clergyman and professor of theology in Zurich. Wolf is also known to have owned a copy of the Aldine Pindar and a manuscript Sammelband of Cicero.

Einbanddatenbank states that the initials BZ refer to both Balthasar Zihenaus and his son Bartholomäus, the latter being active into the 1560s.

8vo (155 x 100 mm). Greek type, 23 lines plus headline. collation: α⁸ a-z⁸ A-R⁸: 328 leaves. Woodcut initials, woodcut printer’s device on final verso, a few early annotations in Latin and Greek. (Occasional light damp-staining.)

Binding: Contemporary stamped calf over pasteboard (164 x 115 mm), by Balthasar or Bartholomäus Zihenaus of Leipzig, outer roll-tooled border depicting Lucrecia, Prudencia, Fortitudo and Justicia with the initials BZ and dated 1538, with flower and leaf stamps in the centre, blind-tooling in spine compartments, plain edges. (Joints creased, spine chipped at ends, a few small wormholes in binding, binding slightly rubbed.)

Provenance: Johannes Wolf (Vuolfius) of Zurich (1521-1572, Protestant theologian), early inscription at foot of title-page stating that he bought this in Leipzig in 1541 — J.G. Scherzii (plausibly Johann Georg Scherz, of Strassburg, 1678-1754), inscription on title-page — Johann Gottfried Schweighäuser (of Strassburg, classical scholar, 1742-1830, or his son the archaeologist, 1776-1844), bookplate — François Issaly and Daniel Rossignol, sale, Cannes, 28 April 2004, lot 15. Acquisition: Purchased in 2011 from Hugues de Latude, Paris. References: VD16 A 3796 (both Greek and Latin parts)