Polydorus Vergilius, 31 August 1499

VERGILIUS, Polydorus (c.1470–1555). De inventoribus rerum. Venice: Christophorus de Pensis, de Mandello, 31 August 1499.

First edition of Polydorus’ history of inventions. Drawing on myth and history, Polydorus’ The Inventors of Things attempts to provide the origins for important aspects of daily life and common objects, like time, commerce, law, architecture, agriculture and religion. Chapter 19 is dedicated to medicine and possibly constitutes the earliest, though brief, history of medicine. It charts the treatment of disease from ancient time and concludes with reference to Galen and Avicenna.

Polydorus also touches upon ink and printing, writing in Book II, chapter 10: 'In one day just one person can print the same number of letters that many people could hardly write in a whole year. Books in all the disciplines have poured out to us so profusely from this invention that no work can possibly remain wanting to anyone, however needy. Note too that this invention has freed most authors, Greek as well as Latin, from any threat of destruction' (Copenhaver).

Rare, no auction records on RBH. Polydorus Vergilius, On Discovery, trans. by B.P. Copenhaver (2002). H *16008; BMC V 473, XII 33; BSB-Ink V-139; Bod-inc V-070; GW M50152; Goff V-146; Klebs 1025.1; ISTC iv00146000.

Chancery quarto (202 × 143mm). 88 leaves. Initial spaces with guide-letters (a1 strengthened at gutter, very minor worming in lower margin of quires i and k). Modern vellum-backed wooden boards (hinges reinforced). Provenance: early annotations in at least two hands, making chapter notes on the front endpaper and title-page and intermittent commentary (trimmed).