[Rarebooks] FS: 1477 Venice edition of Aulus Gellius' "The Attic Nights"

[karmbooks]

(INCUNABULA) Gellius, Aulus. [NOCTES ATTICAE] NOCTIUM ATTICARUM COMMENTARII... Venice: Andreas de Paltasichis. 1477. Folio. Complete with 198 leaves, the first blank. This copy bound with a duplicate of conjugate leaves q2 & q7. Latin text with some Greek. With a large ornamental painted capital "P" with floral ornaments in the margin on a2 (the first text leaf). Text with 18 painted capital letters in red, blue & black. Cont. manuscript running head titles and foliation. Bound in full red morocco, gilt, with the large arms of the "Bibliotheque de Mello" (Baron Achille Seilliere, 1782-1850 and his son who died in 1887) circa 1860, signed by the French binder, Hardy. Marbled endleaves. A.e.g. Preliminary leaves with a few small pin-holes from worming, as well as the final leaf with some light worming at the top & bottom margins. Some light text soiling, but overall a lovely copy with very good margins.                                   $20,000.00

The fourth printed edition of "The Attic Nights," the only work of the 2nd century author Aulus Gellius, containing his musings during the long nights of a winter he spent in Attica. The "Bibliotheque de Mello" was a notable collection of early printed books. There is an auction catalog of this library; Sotheby, London, Feb. 28, 1887. Goff G121; HC 7520; BMC V251.