12 - [EUSEBEUS OF CAESAREA].

[EUSEBEUS OF CAESAREA]. […] De euangelica præparatione. [In the colophon:] Hoc Ienson ueneta Nicolaus in urbe uolumen Prompsit. [Venice, Nicolas Jenson, 1470]. Small folio (207 x 305 mm), red long-grain morocco, triple gilt fillet framing the covers, small fleurons at the corners, decorated ribbed spine, gilt edges, inner gilt fillet framing, ivory vellum endpapers (Lewis). 142 unsigned folios, with 39 lines per page. FIRST EDITION of the work by the Church Father Eusebius of Caesarea (circa 265–339) *De Evangelica praeparatione*, translated from Greek into Latin by the humanist Georges de TRÉBIZONDE (1396–1472). FIRST WORK TO EMERGE FROM THE VENETIAN PRESS OF NICOLAS JENSON (circa 1420–circa 1480) USING HIS FAMOUS ROMAN TYPESETTING FOR THE FIRST TIME. A COPY DECORATED WITH THIRTEEN LARGE INITIALS PAINTED IN THE “BIANCHI GIRARI” STYLE AND A LARGE COAT OF ARMS FLANKED BY THE INITIALS “A L” ON THE TITLE PAGE. Most of the copies consulted are also adorned with a coat of arms on the first page; here, it features a rearing stag (ancient Lorraine) that can be attributed to Albert of Lorraine, cantor at St. Mark’s Basilica and a close associate of Nicolas Jenson, who mentions him in his will. Each paragraph is introduced by a handwritten title set in rubrication, as well as a small initial painted in blue or red. From the library of Henry DRURY (1878–1841), a teacher at Harrow School, with the following note on the title page: “coll. per. M. Drury. Harroviæ. / 1818. bound by Lewis”; GOMEZ DE LA CORTINA (February 1872, no. 39), with bookplate; Jean TANNERY (May 4, 1954, no. 1) ; & Marcel DESJARDINS, with bookplate. Spine worn; copy faded. Hain, 6699; Proctor, 4066; Pellechet, 4642; Stillwell, E. 91; BMC, V, 167. A BEAUTIFUL COPY OF THIS MASTERPIECE OF VENETIAN TYPOGRAPHY.