Description

Suetonius Tranquillus, Caius.

Vita XII Caesarum. (On the last leaf:) Lyon [Balthazar I de Gabiano] 1508. 8°. 176 foliated leaves. 17th century calf binding with black gilt-stamped spine label and rich ornamental gilt "à la Duseuil" on spine and cover, gilt edges. (Somewhat rubbed, lower capital torn out). Baudrier VII, 23. Pettegree & Walsby 87067. Extremely rare octavo edition, also the first edition of Suetonius printed in France, edited by the Bolognese humanist Gaspar Argilensis and dedicated to Jean Grolier - this is the first book dedicated to Grolier! The dedication begins: ".Iano Grolerio Lugdunensi a secretis christianiss Francorum Regis meritiss.". The dedication preface also makes it clear that the edition was 1000 copies and only there is the name of the printer mentioned: ".Eas (=the Vites) . Balthasari Calcographo Lugdunensi elegantissimo typis excursoriis ad enchiridii formam per mille exemplaria describendas. Et sub nomine tuo punlicandas dedimus". The preface also provides evidence that Grolier had studied in Paris, as Gaspar Argilensis reminds his "tent-mate" (contubernalis) of their time studying together in Paris: "Cum tu spectatae idolis puer stipendia litteraria in celeberrimo parrhisiorum gymnasio contubernalis meus auspicio nostro felicissime fecisti. Cuius lucubrationes vigiliasque si hi qui tantum ad perdenda vina geniti videri volunt, imitaretur.". A. Hobson, Renaissance Book Collecting: Jean Grolier and Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, their Books and Bindings, p. 7: "Our information about [Grolier's] education comes from the dedication to him of an edition of Suetonius . The editor Gaspar Argilensis, was evidently acting as tutor to Grolier, who by this time held the post of secrétaire du roi. Gaspar observed that in spite of the interruption caused by constant journeys through France, since Grolier by virtue of his office had to attend the peregrinatory court of Louis XII, they had succeeded in continuing their literary studies. They had read Suetonius together during a halt of sevral days at Lyons, . To make reading accessible a good text of a work which seemed of value to anyone concerned with the government of an empire Gaspar gave the book to Balthasar de Gabiano, whom he called 'a most elegant printer', to be published in an edition of 1'000 copies. (This is a rare example of the Lyonese printers producing an octavo edition of a classical author before Aldus Manutius)...". Gaspara Mazzoli was named after his native town of Argile; he had obtained his doctorate in Bologna in 1485 and taught in Paris from the end of the 15th century. Longer contemporary handwritten entry on the title, numerous marginalia in the text, often with corrections to the text. Some spotting throughout. Marginal tears in the last two leaves restored.

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Suetonius Tranquillus, Caius.

Estimate 1 200 - 1 800 EUR
Starting price 1 200 EUR

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For sale on Wednesday 03 Jul : 10:00 (CEST)
pforzheim, Germany
Kiefer
+49723192320
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