Cato's Distichs, with the Speculum regiminis - photo 1

Cato's Distichs, with the Speculum regiminis

Lot 9
16.10.2025 00:00UTC +01:00
Classic
To bid, go to the website
CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
ID 1471932
Lot 9 | Cato's Distichs, with the Speculum regiminis
Estimate value
$ 5 000 – 8 000
[CATO, pseudo-]. Disticha de moribus. – PHILIPPUS DE BERGAMO (d. c.1380). Speculum regiminis. With additions by Robertus de Euremodio. Augsburg: [Anton Sorg], 2 November 1475.

First edition of the Speculum regiminis and one of the earliest editions of the Distichs, one of the most important and widely-circulated Latin text books. What may appear to be a commentary on the Distichs is in fact an original work by Philippus de Bergamo while reproducing much of the Distichs text. The Distichs were preceded in print only by Dutch prototypographical editions (surviving only in fragments) and possibly by a Basel edition of the same year; CIBN gives precedence to the present Sorg edition.

The Distichs taught generations of school children from the Middle Ages into the modern period. Chaucer mentions it and Benjamin Franklin probably learned from it at Boston Latin School. HC 4711*; BMC II 342; Bod-inc C-126; BSB-Ink D-189; CIBN C-160; GW 6277; Goff C-292; ISTC ic00292000.

Chancery folio (290 × 196mm). 484 leaves. Colophon reads “festi” (first leaf on guard with additional marginal repairs, final leaf laid on to later flyleaf, worming and soiling predominantly on first and final leaves, stains on p10r and Z9, one early index tab preserved). Late 18th-century calf, armorial on covers in gold, tooled lettering on spine, catchplates (rubbed at extremities and along joints). Provenance: “N.B.” (armorial on covers: Quarterly, I and IV, a goat rampant; II and III, a woodman with a club in nature) – Sidney Graves Hamilton, librarian of Hertford College, Oxford (1855–1916; bookplate) – Howard Lehman Goodhart (1884–1952; label; gifted to his daughter:) – Phyllis Goodhart Gordan (1913–1994; leather label); by descent.
Place of origin:Germany
Auction house category: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@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.
×
Save this search query and get timely email alerts! It is simple and very effective.
жак фабьен готье д'аготи (1711 - 1786)
Create a Search Subscription