First Authorized Edition
Historia de imperio post Marcum.
Bologna: Franciscus (Plato) de Benedictis, 1493.
Historia de imperio post Marcum. Bologna: Franciscus (Plato) de Benedictis, 1493. Full Description:
HERODIANUS. Historia de imperio post Marcum. [Translated by Angelus Politianus]. [Bolognia: Franciscus (Plato) de Benedictis, 31 August 1493].
First authorized edition (published August 31 in Bolognia), The edition precedeing was unauthorized and published in Rome, on 20 June 1493, and contained neither the letter to Magnanimus nor the marginalia. Small folio (10 15/16 x 7 1/8 inches; 278 x 193 mm.). [68] leaves. Thirty-five lines, roman letter. Some printing in red on aa3. Woodcut printer’s device on verso of final leaf. Capital spaces with guide letters.
Early vellum over boards with title in manuscript on spine. Edges sprinkled red. Marginal worming to the first and last few leaves and in the gutter. Some staining to last few leaves. Bookplate removed from front pastedown. A very good copy. Housed in a brown cloth clamshell with morocco title label.
This first authorized edition of Herodian's history of the Roman emperors from the death of Marcus Aurelius to A.D. 238, generally considered the most reliable source for the period. It was preceded into print by a Rome edition which appeared two months earlier, on 20 June, against Politian's wishes and without his letter to Magnanimus or his annotations. Present copy was printed "on the day before the Kalends of September (August 31). A third incunabula edition of this translation was published all on 30 September 1493.
"Herodian's history of the Roman Empire after Marcus Aurelius (from 180 to 238AD) was written shortly after the events it describes; Herodian probably died in around 240. The first edition, printed in Rome in 1493, was not approved of by Poliziano, in particular because of the long list of errata at the end, and the omission of the printed marginalia. This edition includes a prefatory letter from Poliziano to the Bolognese Andrea Magnanimo, indicating that Alessandro Sarti should help with the correction of the text, which is not present in the Rome edition." (Sotheby's)
Herodianus, a Roman official of Syria in the third century, wrote this history of the Roman empire from the death of Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 180) to that of Gordianus, who committed suicide on the death of his son in 238. The work is most useful as the record of a contemporary observer and was an important historical source for later chroniclers. BMC VI, p. 827. Goff H-86. Hain-Copinger *8467. Proctor 6598.
HBS 69702.
$15,000.
Price: $15,000.00
Item #69702