Selecta Epigrammata graeca latine versa …[ In Greek & Lat.] — Basel 1529

Selecta Epigrammata graeca latine versa, ex septem Epigrammatum Graecorum libris. Accesserunt omnibus omnium prioribus editionibus ac versionibus plusquam quingenta Epigrammata, recens versa, ab Andrea Alciato, Ottomaro Luscinio, ac Iano Cornario Zuiccaniensi. — Basilae ex aedibus Io. Bebelii, mense Aug. M.D.XXIX [Basel, J. Bebel, August 1529].

8vo (161 x 99 mm). A⁴ B-Z⁸ Aa-Dd⁸ E⁴: (4) leaves, 422 pp., (1) leaf.

A few contemporary notes in Greek & Latin. Scribblings on title. Repaird tear at Dd7. Contempoary calf, rubbed, upper compartment of spine skillfully repaired (see photo), lower corners defective.

Provenance: [Claude-Ignace] Brugiere [de Barante] on page 1. Exlibris Bibliothéque de M. de Barante on paste-down. The library at Chateau de Barante contained approximately 60.000 volumes.

Ed. by Janus Cornarius (1500-1558) from Zwickau. Translations from the Greek are by Th. Morus, Erasmus, O. Luscinius, Andreas Alciatus, Ausonius, Sleidan, Cornarius and a few more. – Hoffmann I² 172; VD16 C-5144; Hieronymus, Griechischer Geist … No. 299.

The last leaf with Bebel’s device: the wonderful Palma Bebeliana, drawn by Hans Holbein the Younger, and engraved by Hans Lützelburger. It shows a strong palm tree with Bebel in its crown, suppressed by a heavy ashlar. This refers to the then  usual procedure of not allowing a palm tree to shoot up too quickly. In the device the ashlar represents the printer’s platen, and illustrates the difficulties a young printer had to face.