P. Cornelii Taciti Equitis Romani Annalium ab Excessu Augusti sicut ipse uocat, siue Historiae Augustae, qui uulgo receptus titulus est, libri sedecim qui supersunt, partim haud oscitanter perlecti, partim nempe [...]. Basel: Johannes Froben, 1533.
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A truly exceptional copy of this post-incunable edition of Tacitus from the famous Froben Press, presented in a phenomenal contemporary binding, and collated as complete.
An inferior copy to ours recently sold at Sotheby's December 10th 2024 lot 1208. It was in a near exact binding, quite possibly from the same workshop as the binding of our copy, but significantly more worn, and realised £2,540. Our copy of this important Froben folio of Tacitus is the greatest obtainable copy we can trace, collating as complete, housed in a stunning contemporary binding, and with a remarkably fresh and bright text block.
USTC records just 43 copies held institutionally, with only two held in the UK (Cambridge University and the Bodleian), and only one copy held in the United States (Chicago University Library). It is a notably rare edition in commerce, despite its high desirability for being a beautiful Froben imprint of Tacitus, here presented in a stunning fine contemporary binding.
"Northern humanists such as Beatus Rhenanus (1485 -1547) were attracted to the works of Cornelius Tacitus (ca. 55 -120) for a variety of reasons: the striking presentation of the first-century Roman Empire, the delineation of character and ethical concerns, and the description of Germany found in De Germania. Rhenanus was born in Schlettstadt near Strassburg but spent many years in Basel where he was a close friend of Erasmus and the printer Johann Froben. This edition of Tacitus, which he compiled between 1519 and 1533, is considered one of his best works." (The Berlin Collection, no. 39, University of Chicago Library).
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Size: 226 x 331 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(1), aa1-ff6, a1-z6, A1-V6, (1)]
Contemporary panelled calf over thick wooden boards, possibly French, rebacked, preserving the character well. Binding rubbed, lacking clasps. Both boards are securely attached and the binding stands without shelf lean. Modern endpapers, but with an original blank at the rear. Circa 18th century ink ownership inscription to foot of title page. Some contemporary underlining and some very sporadic marginalia, very neat. Some minor spotting in the margin to q3-5. Collated as complete, without an original preliminary blank if called for, but with an original blank at the rear. Exceptionally bright and clean throughout the text block, essentially as fine as one could ask for. A truly exceptional copy of this post-incunable Froben imprint of Tacitus.
[USTC 681875].
