Facta et dicta memorabilia. Comm: Oliverius Arzignanensis

Venice: Bonetus Locatellus, for Octavianus Scotus, 1493. Early Edition. Hardcover (Vellum). Very Good Condition. Bound in an old manuscript parchment leaf, vellum spine, degraded, stained. An old, ca 17th or early 18th century, rebinding. Pastedowns wormed, Dampstain to first 20 leaves, scattered browning, heavy to some leaves, minor ink stains. Notes, manicules and underlining in a contemporary hand throughout but not pervasive. (3), 206 leaves (0f 210, lacking rear blank). Rear blank replaced with laid paper with fleur de lis watermark.

A finely printed incunable edition of Valerius Maximus's stories of Roman society. Set in a humanist typeface with the commentary of Oliverius Arziganensis which first appeared in 1487. Maximus's collection of around 1000 short tales and anecdotes of Roman life was foundational to the Renaissance as it provided often the sole pool of information about aspects of Roman life that were being widely emulated, especially in Italy and France. This edition was printed 9 times by 1500 (this was the fifth) and in 1510 the Parisian printer and editor Josse Bade published an edition with his commentary added to that of Arzignanensis that went through some 30 printings in the 16th century in Paris, Venice and Milan. It was through the commentary of Oliverius Arzignanensis, an otherwise little known teacher in Vicenza, that the tales became known through Western Europe. Goff V40, ISTC iv00040000

Provenance: Modern bookplate of Walter Goldwater. Size: Folio. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilo. Category: Antiquarian & Rare; Inventory No: 047162.