Polibio, Historico Greco. Tradotto per M. Lodovico Domenichi, et nuovamente da lui riveduto et corretto. Con due fragmenti, ne' i quali si ragiona delle Republiche et della grandezza de' Romani. In Vinegia: Appresso Gabriel Giolito de' Ferrari, 1546.
Polybius, the Greek Historian. Translated by M. Lodovico Domenichi, and newly revised and corrected by him. With two fragments, in which the Republics and the greatness of the Romans are discussed. Venice: Printed by Gabriel Giolito de Ferrari, 1546.
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An attractive and very scarce early Italian edition of The Histories of Polybius, chronicling the rise of the Roman Republic and its domination over the Mediterranean world, including the defeat of Carthage and Rome’s transformation into an imperial power. This edition was printed in 1546 by the significant Venetian press of Gabriel Giolito de’ Ferrari, notable as one of the earliest and most influential printers of vernacular Italian literature. The press was celebrated for its typographical refinement, which is fully evident in this edition, featuring elegant type, historiated initials, and the printer’s famous device on the verso of the colophon.
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Size: 100 x 158 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(1), A-Z8, 2A-2O8, 2P4, (1)]
Collates as complete sans original blanks. Typographically this work is very similar to an Aldine Press imprint, and is widely regarded as one of the finest presses of the period, particularly for its typography. This imprint has several very attractive historiated initials and the famous very fine printer's device on the verso of the colophon (preceding the Index). Minor dampstaining, sporadic contemporary marginalia, text block a little trimmed historically occasionally catching some marginalia but without any loss to printed text. Generally very bright and clean throughout, internally a well presented copy.
Full limp vellum, title in manuscript to spine. The binding has clearly been reattached at some point, presumably circa 1890, with an associated sewn tail piece, blanks, and pastedowns, but the binding is clearly not a remboitage and is associated with the page block given the MS title to the spine ('Polibio Historia') and corresponding size. The binding is securely attached to the page block. The boards tends to splay outwards as is common for limp vellum bindings. Some discolouration, but generally a well presented copy both externally and internally.
