Works of Publius Papinius Statius including his Orthographia, Thebaid, and Achilleidos. The first edition of all the surviving works of Statius, also bound with an orthography of Greek terms found in Statius. Published in 1502, only just post incunable. (Incunabula period usually considered to be 1440-1501).
Colophon to end of book, “venetiis in aedibus aldi mense augusto MDII”. Printed in Venice in August 1502 at the Aldine press.
Statius notably inspired Boccaccio, Chaucer, John Dryden, and Dante Alighieri (particularly his Thebaid, which was a very popular text during the Middle Ages). Bound in an early 18th century red morocco gilt with gilt initials WPG and motto 'For My Duchus'. Woodcut Aldine device at end of Orthographia.
Statius was a 1st century Greco-Roman poet and is known for his appearance in Dante’s Divine Comedy (in Purgatory) as a guide. Dante and Virgil meet Statius as they leave the fifth terrace in Purgatory and enter the sixth terrace. He appears a large number of times throughout the work and is a main character in Dante’s Divine Comedy.
Text block VG+, extremely clean with very minor marks on a small number of pages. Toning to title page. Page edges VG+. Boards VG with some scuffing. Spine G with a small part missing from the bottom. Joints and hinges G with one hinge VG- and attached and the other completely deteoriated with front board detached. Missing headcap. Rear endpaper loose. Small partial library stamp on verso of Orthographia. Shelf wear. The text block is in excellent condition, with the binding with the aforementioned flaws. Incredible condition for being just post incunable.
