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***VERY RARE - NO RECORD OF SALES, NO OTHER LISTED COPY, ONLY 2 COPIES HELD BY INSTITUTIONS - 1 in Lyon, France and another at Princeton University. This is the third.*** Pub. Virgilii Maronis Opera. (Works of Publius Vergil Maro. Translated by Pierius Valerianus with the help of the MSS codices: now again compared with the oldest, and by far the best copy of all. From the illustrious library of Prince Friedrich IV, Count Palatine of the Rhine, and a book of ancient readings, printed by the widow of Joseph Tainturier, typographer and bibliographer, 1649) Overall Condition: antiquarian VG PROVENANCE From the Virgil Collection of Craig Kallendorf (1954 - 2023), who owned the largest private collection of antiquarian Virgil works (1,150 editions, not including Incunable books) in the world. Only a handful of prominent institutions like the British Library had larger collections. Eighth-nine of the books in his collection were the only known surviving copies, 71 only had one other known copy. He worked closely with Princeton University in helping to assemble, supplement and catalog its Junius Spencer Morgan Virgil collection. Craig Kallendorf was Professor of English and Classics at Texas A&M University. He was the author or editor of 27 books and more than 170 articles, book chapters, and reference work entries. ABOUT THE BOOK Published in 1649 by the widow of Joseph Tainturier in an unknown place (possibly Bourg-en-Bresse, France? based on another rare book by the widow surfacing dated 1668 from the city where Joseph owned a bookshop.) Only known edition. Text in Latin. Bound in 18th to early 19th century French mottled full calf fine binding: ruled in gilt; single fillet in blind paneling; spine richly tooled in gilt with a black morocco gilt-lettered spine label; all edges stained yellow; marbled endpapers. Duodecimo, 12mo, 5" x 3.5", 597 pages. Quite complete. Contains Virgils Bucolics, Georgics, Aeneid, supplemental Book XIII of the Aeneid, and work from the Appendix Vergiliana. Printer woodcut device of a griffin on title page. From the translations of Pierio Valeriano (1477 - 1558) and books from the library of Prince Friedrich IV, Count Palatine of the Rhine 1574 1610). Decorated initials. Lines numbered by 10 along the margin by the printer. CONDITION REPORT Very Good by 17th century standards. Refreshed endpapers and flyleaves. Textually complete. Exterior is VERY GOOD+. Square spine, firm hinges and joints, corners fairly sharp. Rubbed boards, joints and extremities. Slight rubbing on spine. Most of the stain has faded away from the fore-edge and top edge; most still visible on the bottom edge. Interior - VG. Trimmed pages. Darkened endpapers and text block, toned pages. Foxing is light overall with some sporadic heavier foxed pages, more moderate foxing to first few and last few pages of book. Signs of handling - a few marginal tears, creases, several smudges, a few areas with marginal water dampening. A few leaves with raggedy edges and some marginal paper loss. No marginalia. Verso of FFEP with Kallendorf's ex libris sticker. All in all, an impressively rare edition of Virgil's complete works, with only two listed by institutions and no record of sale or one listed for sale that I could find. This is your opportunity to own a 350-year-old copy of Virgils works--in a beautiful fine binding--that few, if anyone else, in the world privately owns. A rare opportunity for universities and private collectors alike!
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