Pliny | Historia naturalis, the Macclesfield copy, printed on vellum, Rome: Sweynheym and Pannartz, 1470

Plinius Secundus, Gaius (Pliny, the Elder)

Historia naturalis. Ed: Johannes Andreas, bishop of Aleria. Rome: Conradus Sweynheym and Arnoldus Pannartz, [between 8 April and 30 August] 1470

Folio printed on vellum (380 x 270 mm, variable). Roman types, 46 lines (headlines written in black ink as numerals, with occasional words), initial spaces, rubricated throughout in red and blue, marginal headings in blue and red, with chapter numbers added in red, gilt Roman white vine-work initials on red, blue, and green grounds for each book, mostly seven-line (initial for Book VIII eight-lines) with blue and white marginal flourishes, initial for Book II a large M incorporated into the elaborate border decoration, Book XVII with added gilt French seven-line initial N on blue ground, similar French two-line initials in preliminary leaves; a very little light, scattered soiling, abrasion to arms incorporated into the illumination on 3/1r. Late sixteenth-century French blind-stamped calf, covers with central olive-wreath ornament within a frame of blind-ruled fillets, spine in seven compartments, second gilt-lettered with title, others with blind fleurs-de-lys, gilt edges; minor restoration to head and foot of spine and other extremities, some light scuffing.

Collation, Contents, and Manuscript Leaves

1¹⁰ 2¹² (fos. 1–22): fo 1 blank; dedication; prelims; contents table = liber I

3–6¹⁰ 7–11⁸ (fos. 23–102): libri II–VIII

12–17¹⁰ 18–20⁸ (fos. 103–186): libri IX–XVII)

21–27¹⁰ 28–29⁸ 30¹⁰ (fos. 187–282): libri XVIII-XXVII

31–37¹⁰ 38–39⁸ 40¹⁰ (fos. 283–378; without the final two blanks): libri XXVIII–XXXVII