STATIUS, Publius Papinus (c.45-96). Opera. [And:] OVID (Ps.? 43-c.18). Sappho Phaoni. With commentaries by Lactantius, Mataratius, and Calderinus. Venice: Jacobus de Paganinis, 24 December 1490.

Macclesfield copy of the second edition of the complete works of Statius. This is a reprint, "with considerable elegance," (Moss) of Octavianus Scotus's first collected edition. Statius is best known for his epic poems composed during the reign of Domitian, the Thebaid and the unfinished Achilleid, which enjoyed pride of place in the Medieval school curriculum. His occasional poems, called the Silvae, faded from popularity in the 7th century until their rediscovery by Poggio Braccolini in the early 15th. Statius’s own continuing fame is perhaps best reflected in Dante’s placement of the ancient author in the Purgatorio, working towards salvation. The works here are each accompanied by humanist commentaries, as well as the disputed text of Ovid’s letter of Sappho to Phaon, often found accompanying the Sylvae in early editions. A few bibliographers have reported a 1475 edition of the complete works, but Dibdin declares it "entirely fictitious." HC 14978; Bod-inc S-287; BMC V 456, XII 32; IGI 9145; Moss p. 611-612; Goff S692; ISTC is00692000.

Chancery folio (294 x 206mm). 208 leaves (of 210, without first and last blanks, outer bifolium of gathering H bound reversed). Work of Statius with commentary surrounding it in smaller type (small marginal repairs, mainly to first two leaves, short closed tear, some scattered repaired wormholes affecting a few letters). 17th-century red morocco gilt, edges gilt. Provenance: contemporary marginalia (some washed and trimmed) – Earls of Macclesfield (bookplate dated 1860 and embossed stamp on first 2 leaves).