204 - HORACE. Opera. No place, no date [Strasbourg, Johannes Grüninger, March 12, 1498]. In-4, marbled sheepskin, decorated spine, red edges (18th-century binding).

HORACE. Opera. No place, no date [Strasbourg, Johannes Grüninger, March 12, 1498]. In-4, marbled sheepskin, decorated spine, red edges (18th-century binding). GW, 13468. - HC, 8898. - Goff, H461. - Davies, Fairfax Murray: German, no. 205. - Brunet, vol. III, col. 311. First illustrated edition of Horace’s works, and the first edition of this book printed in Germany. It was published by the poet Jacob Locher, known as Philomusus (1471–1528). Brunet notes that it can be classified as a princeps edition, as it was not based on printed texts but on manuscripts found in Germany. Remarkable illustrations, including a large woodcut on the title page depicting an author copying a book, 4 large woodcuts, and approximately 160 smaller ones in the text arranged using a modular woodcut technique: several of which had already been used in the illustrated edition of Terence published by Grüninger himself in 1496. Old handwritten bookplates on the title page, including one that has been crossed out and another that is partially torn. Handwritten bookplate by A. Barbet. Copy containing a few old handwritten annotations, numerous underlined passages, and manicules. It is housed in a brown shagreen box signed Lobstein-Laurenchet. Several leaves with soiled title pages. A small vertical crease on the title page, with a loss in the white margin at the top and bottom. Several leaves at the beginning of the volume are slightly short at the top, with the running title touched by the bookbinder’s knife. A small tear with no loss of text on folio LVII. A small wormhole in the inner margin of quires C through E. An ink stain (redaction?) on one of the figures in the engraving on folio XLIII. Restored headbands. Appraiser: Mr. Dominique Courvoisier