PLINIUS Secundus, Gaius Caecilius (61–c.113). Epistolae. [Rome: Johannes Schurener, de Bopardia, not after 1 June 1474].

Second edition, unrecorded at auction in over a century; the Blenheim Palace copy. An invaluable source of knowledge for daily life in Ancient Rome. Not in the British Library, and only two copies in the US. HCR 13108; Bod-inc P-375; CIBN P-472; GW M34356; Goff P-805; ISTC ip00805000.

Median quarto (225 × 160mm). 140 leaves. (Short marginal tear in a1, wormholes mostly confined to first and last quires, text on l10r faded in part, occasional small stains.) 18th-century panelled morocco gilt, ornamental frames on covers, spine gilt with leather label, marbled endpapers (rehinged). Provenance: contemporary Latin inscriptions (mostly faded) – John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough (1822–1883; Sunderland Library, Blenheim Palace sale, Puttick and Simpson, London, 13 November 1882, lot 9954; purchased by Bernard Quaritch, their Sunderland Library bookplate) – Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe (1858–1945; Crewe Hall bookplate) – Howard Lehman Goodhart (1884–1952; label; gifted to his daughter:) – Phyllis Goodhart Gordan (1913–1994; leather label); by descent.