Bibliothecae historicae libri VI and Germania - photo 1
Bibliothecae historicae libri VI and Germania - photo 2

Bibliothecae historicae libri VI and Germania

Lot 13
16.10.2025 00:00UTC +01:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1471936
Lot 13 | Bibliothecae historicae libri VI and Germania
Estimate value
$ 7 000 – 10 000
DIODORUS SICULUS (fl. 1st century B.C.). Bibliothecae historicae libri VI. Translated by Poggius Florentinus. – TACITUS, Gaius Cornelius (c.56–c.117). Germania. Edited by Hieronymus Squarzaficus. Venice: Thomas de Blavis, de Alexandria, 25 November 1481.

Owned by Johann XX von Dalberg in a contemporary Heidelberg binding, with humanist manuscript title-page. The present edition contains two texts that were rediscovered by Poggio Bracciolini and Nicolaus de Niccolis, subjects of Phyllis Gordan’s scholarship. This copy was first acquired by the German humanist bibliophile, Johann XX von Dalberg, Prince-Bishop of Worms. Prior to this, as Chancellor of the University of Heidelberg, Johann XX gathered a large humanist circle and oversaw the University’s shift from medieval scholasticism. His circle was responsible for translating several works out of Greek and Latin into the vernacular, and for making Heidelberg a central hub of the German Renaissance. He was elected Prince-Bishop of Worms in 1482 despite being 27 and not 30 as required by canon law, after receiving papal dispensation. His arms are illuminated at the foot of the first text page, and the copy features a manuscript title-page written on the first blank in neat litterae antiquae, with an accompanying humanistic epigram: “Eruditio hominibus adfort sobrietatem, senibus solatium, pauperibus divitias, Divitibus ornamenta, nobilibus Dignitatem, omnibus gratiam.” [Education gives sobriety to mankind, solace to the elderly, wealth to the poor, ornaments to the rich, dignity to the noble and grace to all.] HCR 6190; BMC V 316; Bod-inc D-071; BSB-Ink D-150; CIBN D-130; GW 8376; Goff D-212; ISTC id00212000.

Chancery folio (300 × 205mm). 120 leaves (of 122, lacking r2.5). Arms of Johann XX von Dalberg illuminated in gold and silver on foot of a1, illuminated first initial “N” on field of blue, red and green, initials and running book headers in red and blue (worming affecting text in final leaves and in left corner of quires d to f, occasional light marginal stains and soiling, neat tear in m2). Contemporary blindstamped German pigskin over wooden boards, from the workshop of Paulus R. of Heidelberg [EBDB w000004], tooled with his “Paulus” scroll and four-leaf flower stamps [s000137, s000140] within triple-filleted border and panel, catchplates with one clasp, “Diodorus Siculus” written on foredge and top-edge in two distinct hands, contemporary manuscript paper label on spine covered over by 16th-century manuscript paper label, additional later paper label on upper cover mostly removed, recycled medieval manuscript quire guards (light soiling, top-edge darkened, head- and tailbands bumped, few light scratches). Provenance: Johann XX. von Dalberg, Prince-Bishop of Worms and Chancellor of the University of Heidelberg (1455–1503; inscription on blank, his arms on a1) – early library labels and titling – Georgius Kloss, Frankfurt am Main (1787–1854; 19th-century bookplate; his sale, Sotheby's, London, 12 May 1835, lot 1276) – Phyllis Goodhart Gordan (1913–1994; leather label); by descent.
Place of origin:Germany, Italy
Auction house category:Antiquarian books, Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
02.10.2025 – 16.10.2025
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
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