The History of Alexander the Great by Quintus Curtius Rufus 1481

De Rebus Gestis Alexandri Magni Regis Macedonum Liber Tertius by Quintus Curtius Rufus. Milan: Antonius Zarotus for Johannes de Legano, 26 March 1481, large 4to. 

THE EARLIEST OBTAINABLE COPY OF RUFUS' HISTORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT FORMERLY IN A BRITISH ROYAL COLLECTION.

The Duke of Sussex’s copy of this exceptionally rare and earliest obtainable edition of Quintus Curtius Rufus’ Historia Alexandri Magni. The former owner, Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (1773–1843), sixth son of King George III, was among the most distinguished bibliophiles of his generation with an impressive library.

EXTREMELY RARE. This is the earliest obtainable edition of Quintus Curtius Rufus’ history of Alexander the Great -the editio princeps, printed circa 1471, is of the utmost rarity: the last recorded copy at auction appeared in 1985, from the Irving Davis Collection, Sotheby’s. The second edition last sold at Christie’s in 1994, realising £12,075. No other copies of this third edition are traced in the auction or booksellers’ market in recent memory. Institutional holdings are themselves limited, with ISTC recording 45 extant copies (41 via USTC).

Condition:

[a–p⁸, q⁶ (-a1, q1,6)]

123 leaves of 126, lacking the two blanks and one textual leaf in the last quire (q1) only. Roman type, 34 lines, large decorated MS entrance initial on a2, contemporary (or near) marginalia in several distinct hands throughout. Dampstaining to first gathering in the gutter as pictured, else generally clean throughout, occasional worming; an attractive copy internally. Front pastedown with the armorial bookplate of Augustus Frederick and with the ffep with the bookplate of John Richardson Major. 

Circa 18th century sheep binding, secure with joints cracked, some scuffs and rubbing, but generally well presented. Old auction label affixed to one of the boards. 

[ISTC ic01000000; USTC 995510; Goff C1000; Pell 4065; Bod-Inc C495; Pro 5808; BMC VI, 717; GW 7873]