Epistolarum Libri. X duobus nuper. Additis eiusdem quae praefationes appellantur

Manutius, Paulus. Epistolarum … Libri. X Duobus. Nuper. Additis Eiusdem quae Praefationes appellantur. Venice, In Aedibus Manutianis, 1571. [16] + 469 + [1 blank] p + [1]f with Aldine device + 67 + [1 blank]p + [2]f + 139 + [1 blank]p + [6]f . 3 parts in 1 volume in 12mo. Preface in Roman letter; text in Italic. Large Aldine anchor & dolphin device with legend ‘Aldus Iunior’ on 1st and 2nd titles and at end of all 3 parts; miniature woodcut portrait of Aldus Manutius the Elder within architectural border (58 x 56mm) on verso of 1st and 2nd titles. 18th century quarter sheep; gilt, title label; marbled boards. A collection of the celebrated Latin epistles in Ciceronian style by the Venetian scholar - printer Paolo Manuzio (1512-74), third son of Aldo the Elder (1449-1515), founder of the famous Aldine press. The letters, dated between 1558 and 1570, were edited and printed by Paolo’s eldest son Aldo the Younger (‘Aldus Junior’ 1547-97) who had succeeded to the family business in 1561, when his father left for Rome to manage the Tipografia del Popolo Romano for Pope Pius IV. Aldo the Younger was a professor of literature who wrote a treatise on Latin spelling. The 3rd part contains Paolo Manuzio’s dedicatory prefaces to his redactions of the classics. Indexes at the end of the volume list the names of the 124 recipients of the letters, and the names of the 28 dedicatees of the prefaces. Paolo Manuzio is chiefly known for his contribution to scholarship through his redactions of finely printed editions of Cicero’s letters and speeches, for his Latin translation of Demosthenes’ Philippics (1549) and for his studies of Roman antiquities. The circular woodcut portrait of his father, Aldus Manutius the Elder is surrounded with the legend : Aldus Pius Manutius R.; the architectural border comprises the Aldine arms and motto ‘Insigne Manutianum’. Several early ownership entries on 1st title , occasional marginal notes and underlinings, some contemporary notes in brown ink on verso of last leaf. A good copy; top blank margins lightly cropped not affecting text ,inner margin of index waterstained, minor traces of usage only. Renouard (3rd edn) pp212-213, no 7; USTC no 840490. …