TACITUS, Gaius Cornelius (c.56–c.117). Opera. Edited by Franciscus Puteolanus and Bernardinus Lanterius. [Milan: Antonius Zarotus, c.1487].

Second edition (the only Milan edition), featuring the first edition of "The Life of Agricola"; with contemporary Milanese provenance. Comprising the extant works of “the outstanding historian and principal prose writer of the Silver Age of Latin letters” (PMM), the present edition includes the first appearance in print of Tacitus’ biography of his father-in-law, the great Roman general Agricola, under whose leadership the Romans conquered Britain.

This copy of Antonius Zarotus' Milan edition was owned by a member of the noble Castiglioni family of Milan, Giovanni Stefano Castiglioni (1456–1519). Castiglioni served as an ambassador for the dukes of Milan to Venice and then to Florence, where he represented Milan's last independent ruler, Ludovico Sforza, before the Medici. He was later involved in Milan's embassies to Francis I of France, including offering the city to Francis I and overseeing its transition of sovereignty. HC 15219; BMC VI 719; Bod-inc T-005; CIBN T-5; GW M44730; Goff T-7; ISTC it00007000.

Super-chancery folio (300 × 206mm). 188 leaves, including blanks at y10, &8 and B6). Arms of Giovanni Stefano Castiglioni painted on a2 (gules, a lion rampant argent holding a castle triple-towered or) between his intials "I.S.", illuminated initial "N" in burnished gold on a ground of green, blue and pink, with floral decorations extending into the margins, rubricated (marginal purple stains on last leaves plus occasional stains and dampstains elsewhere, few wormholes, marginal tear in u6). Contemporary Italian panelled calf over wooden boards, tooled in blind, brass claps and catchplates (rebacked and repaired preserving most of upper and lower panels). Provenance: Giovanni Stefano Castiglione (c.1456–1519) – ?ownership inscription in Latin – contemporary Latin marginalia in a few hands – Amalteo family (c.17th-century ex libris inscription on first leaf) – Howard Lehman Goodhart (1884–1952; label; gifted to his daughter:) – Phyllis Goodhart Gordan (1913–1994; leather label); by descent.