Aristotle | Problemata, [Venice, Aldus, 1497], later vellum

Aristotle.

Aristotle, Problemata. [Venice, Aldus, 1 June 1497]

(ii) Aristotle, Problemata

(iv) Aristotle, Mechanica

(iii) Alexander Aphrodisiensis, Problemata

Part of volume 4 only (of 5), in 3 sections (ii, iii, iv), super-chancery folio (308 x 216 mm), Greek type, 30 lines plus headline, 168 leaves (of 170 for these sections), (ii) AAAaaa-MMMmmm⁸ NNNnnn-ΞΞΞooo¹⁰ (iv) a.α-b.β⁶ (iii) α.a- δ.d ⁸ ε.e1-4 ε.e7-10 (final verso blank), woodcut initials and ornaments, a few early marginal annotations in Latin to final section, later vellum over boards, manuscript title in brown ink on spine, edges speckled red, lacking ε.e5-6 of (iii), NNNnnn5-6 and ΞΞΞooo5-6 detached, very light marginal dampstaining, outer margin of final 5 leaves more dampstained, small tear to final leaf affecting 2 letters, upper hinge cracking, small scattered wormholes to spine, 10 mm circle of lower board exposed, tear with loss to upper pastedown

This text is part of the fourth volume of Aldus’ five-volume set of Aristotle’s Opera, published between 1495 and 1498. The full set contains works by other authors, including Galen, Philo Judaeus, Theophrastus and Alexander Aphrodisaeus. Volumes I, II, III and V are found in full as lot 95 (see this lot for further information about the set) and other parts of volume IV as lots 96 and 98.

This copy is lacking the first and fifth sections of the fourth volume, containing Theophrastus’ De historia plantarum etc and Aristotle and Theophrastus’ Metaphysica. The third section is found here bound after the fourth.

PROVENANCE:

Trimmed inscription to foot of first leaf of text; ?“Vunel” to verso of final leaf; Niels Hansen Christensen, sale, Sotheby's Park Bernet, New York, 28 November 1978, lot 415 (part lot).

LITERATURE:

ISTC ia00959000 (all 5 volumes); GW 02334