Asconius Pedanius, Expositio in IIII orationes Ciceronis, Venice, Aldus, 1522, Pflug and Ebeleben binding

Asconius Pedianus, Quintus. Asconii Paediani Expositio in IIII orationes M. Tullii Cic. contra C. Verrem & in orationem pro Cornelio. In orationem contra C. Antonium, & L. Catilina. In orationem pro M. Scauro. In orationem contra L. Pisonem. In orationem pro Milone atque harum rerum omnium index. Victorini commentarii in libros M.T.C. de inventione et Georgii Trapezuntii in Orationem pro Q. Ligario. (Venice: in the house of Aldo Manuzio & Andrea Torresano, December 1522)

An elegant Bolognese binding, probably dating to the 1540s, which most likely contained the owner's name on the lower cover (the same removal occurred on a similar binding now in the British Library). See Anthony Hobson, "Bookbinding in Bologna" in Schede umanistiche, n.s. 1 (1998), pp.147-175 (p.168: "A copy of the Aldine Asconius Paedianus, 1522 (Chicago, Dr. T. Kimball Brooker), bound in this style has had the owner's name erased from the lower cover").

8vo (164 x 95 mm). Italic type, 30 lines plus headline. collation: *⁴ **⁸ a-z⁸ A-M⁸ N⁴: 296 leaves (*4 blank). Woodcut Aldine device on title-page and final verso (otherwise blank). (Stamp on lower section of title-page excised and replaced with blank paper.)

binding: Bolognese brown morocco gilt by the Pflug and Ebeleben Binder, covers elaborately gilt within concentric double gilt fillet frames with small leafy tools, upper cover lettered ASCONIUS PEDANIUS, center of lower cover replaced with blank panel of morocco (removing the previous owner's name?), spine gilt in compartments, gilt edges, stubs from four pairs of ties, in modern tan buckram drop-backed box. (Extremities very slightly rubbed, center of lower cover restored, spine repaired at head.)

provenance: Michael Angelus Giacomelli (1695-1774), inscription on verso of flyleaf — Christie Manson & Woods, London, 24 March 1971, lot 88, £300. acquisition: Purchased from Harry A. Levinson, Los Angeles, 1976. references: UCLA 216; Cataldi Palau 85; Edit16 3254; Renouard 96/8