ODL - Where: Italian

Woodcut book cover. The design for the upper board, printed to the right, consists of an escutcheon set in the centre of a circular band surrounded by four naked putti holding cornucopia and lilies and occupying an oblong panel, set against a woven trellised background. Between the two putti at the top is a small plaque, surmounted by a flowering plant and bearing the monogram 'Z. A.'. Single-lined frame. The second woodcut, that for the lower board, to the left, has an escutcheon set in the centre of a circular band surrounded by two naked putti above, fighting each other with toys, and two sphinxes seated below, and occupying an oblong panel, set against a woven trellised background. Single-lined frame. Two vertical chequered strips in the centre of the sheet are designed as ornament for the spine of a book. Evidently intended as an outer paper cover to be pasted to the binding of a volume in 4o.

Ornamental design with naked putti and sphinxes

Broxb. 95.34

recto

Ornamental design with naked putti and sphinxes

Broxb. 95.34

verso

Woodcut book cover. Two woodcuts printed side by side, divided by a vertical black strip intended for the spine when affixed to a bookcover. The woodcut to the left shows an angel, portrayed as a half-length winged figure playing a lute, at the centre of an oblong panel. He is surrounded by an arabesque design made up of tendrils, acanthus and vine leaves, flowers and masks, standing out like the main design in white on black. The woodcut to the right portrays Judith as a standing figure in an oblong panel, barefoot, with a raised naked sword in her right hand and the head of Holofernes in her left.The black background is inscribed 'ivdit'. Both panels are set against a stippled background, black on white.

Angel Playing the Lute / Judith

Broxb. 95.32

recto

Angel Playing the Lute / Judith

Broxb. 95.32

verso

Woodcut book cover. The Virgin Mary in a long robe, crowned and with a halo, her hands pressed together in a gesture of prayer, surrounded by a glory, is seated on the arc of the firmament within a mandorla.To her left and right are two naked putti playing musical instruments. Above her there is a haloed head with two trumpets issuing from the mouth, within an arc from which tongues of fire descend, beneath her feet the head of an angel. The mandorla is supported by four clothed angels positioned in the corners of the outer frame.

Assumption of the Virgin

Broxb. 31.7

recto

Assumption of the Virgin

Broxb. 31.7

verso

Woodcut book cover, upper board, a roundel at the centre containing a three-quarter figure of 'S.MAVRELIO' (St Maurelius, patron saint of Ferrara -- the s reversed), with halo and bishop's mitre, holding a model of a walled town in his right hand and a crozier in his left. Medallion surrounded by a panel with a formal design, in white on black, made of foliage, with urns and winged asses' heads. [Italy (Ferrara), c.1520]

Tractatus summularum logice (etc.)

Broxb. 30.13

binding

Woodcut book cover, lower board, 'S ZORZI' (St George) is portrayed on horseback slaying the dragon with his lance. Medallion surrounded by a panel with a formal design, in white on black, made of foliage, with urns and winged asses' heads. [Italy (Ferrara), c.1520]

Tractatus summularum logice (etc.)

Broxb. 30.13

binding

This book was one of several acquired by the Bodleian in 1699 not because it was an incunable, but because its modern manuscript notes were thought textually important.

Ovidius Naso, Publius

Auct. O 2.24

The Bodleian Library rarely bought directly from occupied Europe during the revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, yet like many others it made collateral gains. The acquisition of this book in 1804 was an indirect result of French confiscations in Italy.

Biblia Latina

Auct. M 1.10,11

Upper cover

Manuscript notes in an early English hand alternate between the humanist and cursive style of writing.

Orosius, Paulus

Historiae adversus paganos

L. 3.13 (2) Jur.

b6 recto (detail)

Orosius, Paulus

Historiae adversus paganos

L. 3.13 (2) Jur.

I5 verso (detail)

Letter from Brognolus citing the invention of printing as a spur to his editorial activity.

Herodotus

Historiae, et al.

Auct. K 2.17

D1 recto

Washed inscription in fifteenth/sixteenth-century hand '[...] ecclesie diue virginis Hantwerpiensis capellanus'.

Herodotus

Historiae, et al.

Auct. K 2.17

D4 verso

Marginal notes and pen-portraits in brown ink of a young person are drawn in the same hand as the note on page o6 verso.

Perottus, Nicolaus

Rudimenta grammatices

Auct. N inf. 1.14

e6 recto

Note of a young boy about shoes. Brother of the owner (sixteenth century), 'Mio fratello Onofrio non me avoluto conzare uno paro de scarpe m[...] loodio et anchora non me avoluto(?) dare li miei dinari [...] io lio imprestato io li impa[...]aro a[...] termine che [...] sene acorza'.

Perottus, Nicolaus

Rudimenta grammatices

Auct. N inf. 1.14

o6 verso (detail)

Purchase note in Italian dated 1485, with the price for the book and a price for the binding and decoration. The inscription reads: '1485 Comperossi addi 10 di nouembre chosto sciolto lire 5 s. 4 e per la legatura e bulletti e uno minio [lire?] 2 s. 6'.

Leonicenus, Omnibonus

In Lucanum commentum

Auct. O inf. 2.16

a1 recto

A seven-line initial 'B' is supplied in blue with red pen-work decoration. A purchase note on page a1 recto in Italian, 1485, includes the price for the book and the price for binding and decoration.

Leonicenus, Omnibonus

In Lucanum commentum

Auct. O inf. 2.16

a3 recto

Many of the sheets in this book bear the offset impression of sheets from several other books, namely 1) the index to Nicolaus Perottus, Cornucopiae linguaelatinae.Venice: Aldus Manutius, Romanus, July 1499, 2) Hieronymus, Vitae sanctorum patrum. Venice: Bonetus Locatellus, for Nicolaus de Frankfordia, 6 Apr. 1500, (e5r and e4v offset onto r4r and r5r), 3) at least one sheet, s2v, bears the offset of both of these books, 4) many sheets also bear the offset of at least one further book, as yet unidentified, but consisting of Italian verse, at least partly in terza rima, a quarto printed in two columns in a roman type. It seems likely that the present copy was put together from remaining second-rate sheets, reflecting a demand for the text at a point when stocks of it were running low.

Lascaris, Constantinus

Erotemata, et al.

Byw. P 1.22

r4 verso

Lascaris, Constantinus

Erotemata, et al.

Byw. P 1.22

a1 recto

Lascaris, Constantinus

Erotemata, et al.

Byw. P 1.22

s2 verso

The ownership inscription on this page shows that Anthonius Urceus acquired this book from the printer, Franciscus Plato de Benedictus, and includes the date and price paid: '1496. Kl. martijs hos libros emi e[g]o Anthonius Vrceus de Platone librario sol. .xij.' [As identified by Martin Davies, Jan. 2010]

Scriptores reimilitaris, sive Scriptores veteres de re militari

Toynbee 3657

RR6 recto

The inscription on the verso of the second front endleaf contains valuable information on provenance and book prices: 'Adi 17 ottobre 1571 in Mond[olf]o [Marche] compro per me Luca M[/L?]oretti dal libraio di Fano giulij doi e mezzo'.

Scriptores reimilitaris, sive Scriptores veteres de re militari

Toynbee 3657

second front endleaf verso

A note by the rubricator on the number of letters he provided reads: 'Litere 652 parafi:'

Marchesinus, Johannes

Mammotrectus super Bibliam

Inc. d.I4.1478.2

A1 recto

The owner of this book, Thomas Lambertus, has had his coat of arms emblazoned on this leaf: party per fess, in chief argent a demilion rampant or, holding in the right paw a star gules, in base, azure and vert a chief-pale purpure (see Crollalanza II 4), the shield is flanked by the initials T. L.

Silvaticus, Matthaeus, Moretus, Matthaeus

Liber pandectarum medicinae

Auct. 3Q 3.38

a2 recto

This page shows marginal notes written by the owner Thomas Lamburtus who bought this book in Padue where he was studying for a Magistro Belpetro physico Vincentino. His coat of arms and ownership inscription may be seen on other pages

Silvaticus, Matthaeus, Moretus, Matthaeus

Liber pandectarum medicinae

Auct. 3Q 3.38

e5 verso

The owner Thomas Lambertus bought this book in Padue where he was studying for a Magistro Belpetro physico Vincentino, the ownership inscription includes the 1479 date of acquisition, and information about the price. Inscription: 'Has pandectas emj Padue studij mei tempore a M[agist]ro Belpetro physico Vincentino, ego Thomas Lambertus me[dici]ne scholaris precio lib [...] duc[atis] 4or 1479'.

Silvaticus, Matthaeus, Moretus, Matthaeus

Liber pandectarum medicinae

Auct. 3Q 3.38

rear endleaf

The 'Holkham Bible'. The title-page is hand-finished, and displays a coat of arms, probably that of the Salom family of Padua. It was purchased in Venice in 1719 for Thomas Coke (1697-1759), of Holkham Hall.

Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim

Holk. c.1

fol. 1a

This leaf features a versified colophon by Ludovius Carbo for the printer Christophorus Valdarfer. Inscriptions include valuable information about early provenance and price.

Cicero, MarcusTullius

Orationes

Auct. L 3.1

E8 verso

The manuscript inscription records that Christoph Scheurl purchased this book in the year of jubilee in Rome and Bologna and the price of the bound copy. 'Iste liber est mei christoferi schewrlij nure[nbergensis] quod partim Emi rome Anno Iubilei partim bon[onie] et v[alet] totus cum ligatura bon[oninorum] 35. Laus deo.'

Laetus, Julius Pomponius

Romanae historiae compendium, et al.

Auct. O inf. 1.31(1)

[a1] recto

Sixteenth/seventeenth-century Italian ornamental design painted on the edges of the text block in red and black ink

Boethius, Anicius ManliusTorquatus Severinus

Opera

Auct. Q 2.12

fore-edge

Contemporary Italian long-stitch through a full cartonnage cover reinforced with secondary covering in reversed alum tawed skin, four pairs of tawed ties lost, remains of parchment rectangular slips which covered the long stitches, original colour of binding was probably pale salmon pink, an example of a cheap and simple binding used by the book trade to ship books.

Plutarchus

Problemata (trans. Johannes Petrus Lucensis, ed. Johannes Calphur …

Auct. O inf. 1.53

upper cover

Plutarchus

Problemata (trans. Johannes Petrus Lucensis, ed. Johannes Calphur …

Auct. O inf. 1.53

spine

Scholars have debated where this book was printed, with some using linguistic evidence to assign the book to Florence, while others, using the same evidence, argue that it points to Naples. The annotation of this page supports the argument for Florence: Ego emi istum librum quinquaginta so[lidi] Questo libro compero Nicolaio di Michelle p[ ] Mo Agnolo Caltolaio che apr (sic) sota (deletum) apresso al uescho uado [...]' M[agistr]o Agnolo is possibly to be identified with Bartolomeo d'Agnolo Tucci (1427-1525), cartolaio, son of Agnolo Tucci (1395-1467), cartolaio to the Badia 1451-67.

Terentius Afer, Publius

Comoediae

Auct. O 5.32

O8 verso

The 'Lives of Famous Men', by Plutarch (c. 46-120), were written in Greek, and were translated into Latin by Italian humanists. The characteristic vine-stem decoration is Italian.

Plutarchus

Vitae illustrium virorum, et al.

Byw. adds. 2/1

v.1: a2 recto

Purchase note from 1554 and price. Inscription: 'Emptus idibus nouembris 1554 assibus xv a domino Jacobo C[a?]rano [...] coram domino Geor[d?]ano commisse deger[...] in ciuitate [...]'.

Ptolemaeus Alexandrinus, Claudius

Geographia (trans. Jacobus Angeli, ed. Philippus Beroaldus and ot …

Auct. K 1.17

verso of second front endleaf

Siege-tower. Roberto Valturio's De re militari ([Verona], 1472) was a hugely influential analysis of warfare. This edition is particularly noteworthy for the 82 woodcuts showing military machines, including this awesome siege-tower in the shape of a dragon. The woodcuts, possibly the work of Matteo de' Pasti, the Veronese illuminator, set new standards for illustrated books.

Valturius, Robertus

De re militari

Douce 289

leaf between r10 and s1

Roberto Valturio's De re militari ([Verona], 1472) was a hugely influential analysis of warfare. This edition is particularly noteworthy for the 82 woodcuts showing military machines, including these showing cannons. The woodcuts, possibly the work of Matteo de' Pasti, the Veronese illuminator, set new standards for illustrated books.

Valturius, Robertus

De re militari

Douce 289

t5 verso

The Greek and Latin texts were printed in separate gatherings which were then folded so that the texts appear in parallel.

Musaeus

Hero et Leander

Auct. 1R 5.13

b2 verso [signed 'b'] - a2 recto

Musaeus

Hero et Leander

Auct. 1R 5.13

b6 verso - b7recto

The woodcut illustrations in this opening show St Proba, reading at a desk, and St Marcellina (sister of St Ambrose). Jacobus Philippus Foresti de Bergamo (fl. 1451-after 1499) was an Italian Augustinian hermit. His De claris mulieribus presents lives of famous women (including Joan of Arc and Margaret, Queen of England), each illustrated with a small woodcut.

Jacobus Philippus de Bergamo

De claris mulieribus

Douce 287

p5 verso-p6 recto

The author, Lucas (Luca Pacioli, c.1445-1517), taught arithmetic and geometry at several Italian universities. His 'Somma di arithmetica' was the first printed work in which finger symbolism of numbers was illustrated. It also discussed double entry bookkeeping, and Pacioli's accounting methodology is applicable today, as are his comments on how to succeed in business.

Lucas de Burgo S. Sepulchri

Somma di arithmetica, geometria, proporzioni e proporzionalita', …

Savile P 8

e4 verso-e5 recto

In addition to the verse colophon, this page includes a purchase note 'M.H. 1485 In Perusio comperatum'. We know that the book was then owned by Franciscans in Nuremburg by a partially cancelled inscription "Franciscanorum Friburgi Brisgoiae 1648". At the front of this book preliminary pages have been bound in containing extra material found in other editions in the same manuscript hand as the Franciscan inscription.

Plinius Secundus, Gaius (Pliny the elder)

Historia naturalis

Auct. Q 1.1

S7 verso

We know that this book was owned by Franciscans in Nuremburg by a partially cancelled inscription "Franciscanorum Friburgi Brisgoiae 1648". At the front of this book preliminary pages have been bound in containing extra material found in other editions in the same manuscript hand as the Franciscan inscription.

Plinius Secundus, Gaius (Pliny the elder)

Historia naturalis

Auct. Q 1.1

Added manuscript pages (unnumbered) (1 recto)

Plinius Secundus, Gaius (Pliny the elder)

Historia naturalis

Auct. Q 1.1

Added manuscript pages (unnumbered) (1 verso)

Plinius Secundus, Gaius (Pliny the elder)

Historia naturalis

Auct. Q 1.1

Added manuscript pages (unnumbered) (2 recto)

Plinius Secundus, Gaius (Pliny the elder)

Historia naturalis

Auct. Q 1.1

Inscription (unnumbered) (2 verso)

The earliest Florentine binding in 'humanistic' style. The illumination and binding were completed in 1483. Dark olive-green goatskin over thick wooden boards bevelled inwards. Four red textile clasps (lacking) hinged on the upper cover were secured by silver ornaments (sixteenth-century?) bearing the De Nobili arms. Four domed bosses with scalloped shell surrounds on each cover. Large silver catches on the lower cover with the Strozzi emblem, a lamb lying in a field with the motto 'MITIS ESTO', on a niello plaque. Tooled in blind with three five-line frames, the second and third enclosing a border of a foliate tool in blind, the innermost frame is double, the two five-line sections divided by a single gilt line, gilt leaves at the outer corners of, and inside, the innermost frame, gilt fleurons in the central panel, oval ornament in blind around a silver roundel containing, gilt, the word 'PLINIO' on the upper cover and 'DENA. ISTO.' on the lower.

Plinius Secundus, Gaius (Pliny the elder).

Historia naturalis [Italian] Historia naturale

Arch. G b.6

upper cover

This edition of Pliny was printed for the Florentine banker, Filippo Strozzi (1428-1491). Cristoforo Landino (1424-1492) was paid 50 gold florins for the translation into Italian. This copy is printed on parchment, and was bound and hand-illuminated for Strozzi by the Florentine illuminator Monte di Giovanni di Miniato (1448-1529). The bills survive and it took four years for the job to be completed, at a cost (for both binding and illumination) of 76 florins 15 soldi and 11 denars. The illustrations include Pliny as the scholarly scientist, and Filippo Strozzi and his son (lower right). The coat of arms in the lower margin is that of Filippo (in his accounts Strozzi referred to this book as 'my Pliny').

Plinius Secundus, Gaius (Pliny the elder).

Historia naturalis [Italian] Historia naturale

Arch. G b.6

a6 recto

This volume was rebound for the Library in gold-tooled red morocco (goat-skin) with the Bodleian's gilt stamp, in 1789-90. The binding was probably the work of Christian Samuel Kalthoeber (fl. 1782-1813), a German emigré binder working in London. He and another German, Heinrich Walther (1740s-1824?), bound many books for the Bodleian in this period.

Demetrius Chalcondyles

Erotemata [Greek]

Auct. K 3.3a

upper board

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