Cicero, Opera, Venice, Aldus, 1583, 10 volumes bound in 4, later vellum

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. M. Tulli Ciceronis operum tomus primus (-decimus). Venice: Aldo II Manuzio, 1582-1583 (colophon to vol.10: Giorgio Angelerii for Aldo Manuzio, 1581)

A monumental edition of the works of Cicero. At the end of the sixth volume is a list of the books available for sale.

10 volumes bound in 4, folio (328 x 219 mm). Roman and italic type, double column, 62 lines plus headline. collation: (1) [engraved title] *² A-Ee⁴ A-Fff⁴ Ggg⁶; a-g⁴ h⁶ (2) *⁴ A-Aa⁴ Bb⁶ a-f⁴ (3) [*]² A-XX⁴ YY²; (4) *⁴ A-Qq⁴ a-e⁴ f⁶ (5) *⁴ A-Bb⁴ a-g⁴ h⁶ (6) *1 a-h⁴ A-Hhh⁴ (Hhh4 with list of books for sale) (7) +⁴ A-Nnn⁴ (8) *⁴ A-Rr⁴ Ss⁶ (9) *⁴ A-Ss⁴ Tt⁶ Vv⁴ (10) +⁴ A-V⁴ X+² X-Hh⁴ Ii⁶ a-g⁴. Volume 1 with engraved title-page entitled Mannucciorum commentariis illustratus with portraits of Cicero and the three Aldos within an architectural frame, other titles with woodcut Aldine device within cartouche, woodcut initials and headpieces. (Some occasional browning and spotting, light soiling to the eighth title.)

binding: Eighteenth-century vellum over pasteboard (333 x 230 mm), morocco lettering-pieces. (Spine labels chipped, some light soiling and wear to vellum).

provenance: William Dodeswell, Pull Court Library (1721-1775, armorial bookplate and shelf label) — James Heron Watson (1879-1958, armorial bookplate) — Sir Peter Smithers (1913-2006), sale, Replica Shoes & Co., 5-6 February 1973, lot 204, £38, to Francis Edwards. acquisition: Purchased from Francis Edwards, London, 1973. references: UCLA 951 and 953; Edit16 12460; Renouard 232/2 & 232/4; G. Scott Clemons & H. George Fletcher, Aldus Manutius: A legacy more lasting than bronze, 105