August 21, 2011
PRINTED 1502: HANDSOME FIRST ALDINE EDITION OF STATIUS WITH THE ORTHOGRAPHIA
WITH THE FAMOUS ANCHOR AND DOLPHIN
A major character in the Purgatory section of Dante’s epic poem The Divine Comedy
[P Papinius Statius; Aldo Manuzio; Markos Mousouros; Giovanni Gioviano Pontano] STATIUS. [Opere.] Venice: Aldus, 1502. 3 parts, including ‘Orthographia et Flexus Dictionum Graecarum’, in one volume. Imprint from colophon. Colophon: Venetiis in aedibus Aldi. mense augusto M, DII. Includes the “Orthographia” ([40] leaves) which precedes the main work and has title: Orthographia et flexus dictionum graecarum omnium apud Statium cum accentib. et generib. ex variis utriusque linguae autorib. Printer’s device on leaf. Collation: a-e8, a-z8,A-F8, G4, A-B8, C4. [41]. [296] leaves ; 8vo., 15 cm. Dedicatory letters by Aldus Manutius to Ioannes Pontanus at beginning of the Sylvae; to Marcus Musurus at beginning of the Orthographia. 19th century full calf, hinges weak with front hinge starting, gilt dentelles, light browing to Orthographia t.p., some light stains, generally an attractive copy internally. BMC, Vol 24, p. 116 (872); Renouard, p. 35, No 7; Isaac 12781; Adams S-1670
This is the FIRST ALDINE EDITION of Publius Papinius Statius (ca. 45, Naples – ca. 96 AD, Naples), the ” Roman poet of the 1st century CE (Silver Age of Latin literature). Besides his poetry in Latin, which include an epic poem, the Thebaid, a collection of occasional poetry, the Silvae, and the unfinished epic, the Achilleid, he is best known for his appearance as a major character in the Purgatory section of Dante’s epic poem The Divine Comedy.” The Orthographia which opens the book, and is sometimes absent or bound the end, is a etymological dictionary of the Greek words used by Statius.
