Lot 211
Theocritus
Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs | 09 May 2007
Description
[Greek title] Idylls Rome: Zacharias Kallierges for Kornelios Benignos, 1516. First edition thus, 8vo., 204 unnumbered leaves, Kallierges device of the double headed eagle on the title page, two text pages shaped to fit within woodcut outlines, and others set in decorative forms, two strapwork headpieces, white on black, type ornaments, black initials, the dropped 2 in the title printed or supplied in red, device of the serpent-wreathed staff on leaf EE4, named as Benigno's device by Kristeller (no.149, this volume cited), 18th century olive morocco, rebacked, spine remounted, some uniform paper discolouration throughout
Footnote
Note: Dibdin II 485; BM STC Italian Books, p.667; Adams T 460; Mortimer 497 (reproductions); Brunet V 781; Legrand I 49.
Early edition of the Greek text (which composes the Idylls and other works of Theocritus) and editio princeps of the Greek Scholia. One of dozen titles published by Kallierges, at the private press established by wealthy banker Agostino Chigi in his palace. It was the first press dedicated to the production of Greek texts. While the privilege of Pope Leo X on left EE4 is set in Gothic letters, the rest of the volume is in Greek letter, the third of Kallierges fonts, based on his Venice font introduced in the 1499 Etymologicum. Kallierges also achieved a satisfactory solution to the problem of Greek accents which had defeated all previous designers of Greek type.
Provenance: With the contemporary ownership inscription of Aeg. Delauney good, also inscribed "HT at Dalys sale 5.5- 1=2=9" on the pastedown, and signed' Kilcary 1816 on fly.