A Sammelband of three rare editions on the natural sciences. 1493-1507

ARISTOTELES (384-322 BCE). De animalibus. Translated by Theodorus Gaza (c.1400-1475). Venice: Bartholomaeus de Zanis, for Octavianus Scotus, 9 August 1498.

[Bound third with the following:]

PLINIUS, Gaius Secundus (23-79). Historiae Naturalis libri XXXVII ab Alexandro Benedicto Ve. Physico emendatiores redditi. [Venice]: Johannes and Bernardus Rubeus, Vercellensis, 16 January 1507.

BARBARUS, Hermolaus (1454-1493). Castigationes Plinianae et Pomponii Melae. [Venice: eponymous press, for Daniel Barbarus, c. 1493-94].

A Sammelband of rare editions on the natural sciences. It brings together Aristotle's main zoological works in Gaza's translation, an extremely rare edition of Pliny's Natural History, edited and with commentary by the anatomist Alessandro Benedetti (apparently in no major library other than NLM), and Barbaro's important critical work on the Natural History, identifying over 5,000 textual corruptions in order to restore the text to an authorial version. On the contemporary Austrian binding see K. Holter 'Vierzierte Wiener Bucheinbände der Spätgotik und Frührenaissance', Codices manuscript: Zeitschrift für Handschriftenkunde, Vienna, 1977, p. 29. Pliny: NLM/Durling 3686; Graesse V, p. 338. Barbarus: HC 2420; GW 3341; BMC V, 587; BSB-Ink B-59; Klebs 143.2; Goff B-101. Aristotle: GW 2353; BMC V, 433; BSB-Ink A-681; Klebs 85.4; Goff A-976.

3 works in one volume, chancery folio (310 x 220mm). 96; 306; 160 leaves. (Occasional small wormholes in Aristotle and Pliny and with occasional spotting in Pliny.) Contemporary Austrian binding by the ‘Slatkonia-Master’: half pigskin over wooden boards tooled in blind with rolls and tools (cf. Holter H4.8 and H4.14), brass catches, manuscript inscriptions on upper board, 'Plinius' on spine, fore-edges lettered with titles (clasps and straps missing, extremities lightly worn). Provenance: a few contemporary annotations in the Pliny – Sigismund Rottenbucher (gift inscription dated 1540 to:) – Sigismund Hofinger – Abel Wulpenhofer O.R.V. 1566 (inscription deleted) – Joannis ?Stein[...] (deleted purchase inscription dated April 1591) – Johann Baptist Zacherl, Augustinian canon of Höglwörth, Upper Bavaria (d. 1725; I.B.P.H. bookplate) – later ?monastic stamp on first title – André Himpe (De Gulden Passer 2003, nos. 11, 19, 130; sale Christie’s, 23 Nov. 2010, lot 33).

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