Polydori Vergilii Urbinatis Adagiorvm liber

Title page with letterpress title and imprint within architectural woodcut border which is signed with the initials of Urs Graf. Includes index.

Title page somewhat water stained and grubby with early ink stain that continues through the next few leaves. Volume complete with additional water staining throughout. Some marginal notes and underlining in early hand throughout. Bibliographic listing of other editions of the book in very early hand below colophon. Handwritten notes on book on front pastedown and flyleaves. Signature of previous owner, Robert Darley Waddilove, on verso of the flyleaf before title page.

Notable for the immense work going into its compilation as well as the wide range of writers on which Vergil drew, De inventoribus rerum assimilated a huge corpus of classical, biblical, and contemporary learning. First published in 1499, the book became a Renaissance bestseller.

A history of origins and inventions, it describes in three books the "first begetters" of all known human activities. Its topics include such matters as marriage, religion, the origins of law, precious metals, agriculture, tools and materials, maritime navigation, and even prostitution.

For this the first revised edition of 1521, Vergil added five more books which are devoted to the origins of Christian rites and institutions. As the work now included criticisms of priestly celibacy, indulgences, and the papacy, it was later placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum (Index of Forbidden Books).

All in all, a very scarce book in a solid binding.