Lot 225

Livy. [Titus Livius Patavinus]

Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs

Auction: 14 February 2018 at 10:00 GMT

£3,250

Description

Ex XIIII T. Livii Decadibus Prima, Tertia, Quarta... Duplex Epitome. Venice: in aedibus Aldi, et Andreae Soceri, 1520. First folio Aldine edition, (302 x 204mm.), 4 volumes (of 5) bound in one, 369 Folios numbered: [xiv], 106; [x], 102; [x], 127, large woodcut Aldine device on title and on recto of Index Tertiae Decadis (* of 2nd section), panelled calf gilt by Henderson & Bissett, g.e, lacking volume 5 - the "Polybii Libri VI de rebus Romanis" (Venice, Aldus, 1521) mentioned on the title page, minor worm damage especially to the last few pages, the first repaired, the second professionally repaired but with loss to a couple of letters, the last with damage to a couple of words, occasional waterstains and some early professional repairs, a few small repairs to title-page, extensive early [C16th ?] annotations and marginalia, especially in the first Decade, inscribed in pencil on front endpaper by William Graham (1855-1922), [USTC 838282]

Footnote

Provenance: William Graham, JP, FRSAS (1855-1922), Banker, Author of "The One Pound Note", Antiquary & Book Collector; Family books relating to the Andersons and Grahams of Edinburgh
Note: Inscribed in pencil by William Graham (1855-1922) on front free endpaper "This edition, the first Folio of Livy by Aldus - 1502/21 "Very Rare. See Renouard's Annales de l'Imprimerie des Aldes and Goldsmid's Biographical Sketch of the Aldine Press & Catalogue, Edinburgh, 1877, p.17, No. 170 (The first edition was 8vo 1518-1523).
It will have been known to William Graham that amongst John Urquhart's prize-winning work at St Andrews was a translation of Livy.