PIUS II, Pont. Max. (1405–1464) [as Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini]. Abbreviatio supra Decades Blondi. [Rome]: D.D.L.D.S.P.V. [Oliverius Servius], 1481.

First edition of any part of Flavius Blondus' great history of Europe from the fall of Rome. This recension by the humanist scholar Piccolomini before he became Pope Pius II preceded Blondus' full text into print by two years. Blondus was one of the first historians to divide history into the three periods of Ancient, Medieval and Modern. This is the first dated book from the press of Oliverius Servius. HC 259*; Bod-inc P-298; BMC IV 129; BSB-Ink P-491; CIBN P-362; GW M33465; Goff P-654; ISTC ip00654000.

Small chancery folio (250 × 190mm). 156 leaves. (Light dampstains, few leaves toned.) Early 20th-century brown calf, gold lettering on spine (rubbed at extremities, scratches on upper cover). Provenance: few Latin annotations in early Humanist hand – Cary W. Bok (inscription dated January 1929) – Marion Caming (inscription dated 1949) – Howard Lehman Goodhart (1884–1952; label; gifted to his daughter:) – [Phyllis Goodhart Gordan (1913–1994); by descent].