DIOGENES LAERTIUS (fl. 200 A.D.) - photo 1
DIOGENES LAERTIUS (fl. 200 A.D.) - photo 2

DIOGENES LAERTIUS (fl. 200 A.D.)

Lot 48
09.07.2025 10:30UTC +01:00
Classic
To bid, go to the website
CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
ID 1450545
Lot 48 | DIOGENES LAERTIUS (fl. 200 A.D.)
Estimate value
£ 7 000 – 9 000
DIOGENES LAERTIUS (fl. 200 A.D.)
Vitae et sententiae philosophorum. Translated by Ambrosius Traversarius. Edited by Aelius Franciscus Marchisius. [Rome: Georgius Lauer, between Feb. and 15 May 1472?].
First edition of ‘an indispensable source for Greek philosophy’ (Kraye). The Latin translation by Ambrosius Traversarius preceded the editio princeps by some 63 years, and ‘created a revolution in Renaissance thinkers' view of ancient philosophy’ (Grafton). Written in the early third century AD, Diogenes’s work is one of the principal surviving sources of Greek philosophy, providing biographies and philosophical teachings of numerous ancient figures whose original writings are largely lost. The work is organised into ten books, systematically covering major philosophical schools and figures—from the Seven Sages and Socrates to Plato, Aristotle, the Cynics, Stoics, Pythagoreans, Eleatics, Atomists, and Epicureans. HC(Add) 6196; BMC VII, 1127; Bod-inc D-076; GW 8378; Goff D-219; ISTC id00219000; Anthony Grafton, in The Cambridge History of Renaissance Philosophy, 1988; Jill Kraye, in: The Cambridge Companion to Renaissance Philosophy, 2007.

Chancery folio and royal quarto (285 x 195mm). 140 leaves (the two preliminary leaves [*2] containing the dedication apparently supplied from another copy). Illuminated initial with white vine decoration extending down inner margin on [a1], other initials in alternating red and blue, coat of arms [possibly that of Bonacolsi of Mantua] in lower margin of [a1] (faint dampstaining to upper portion of gutter throughout, heavier and extending into text in [a1-3]). Modern pigskin, printed paper spine label (preserving old dampstained endpapers with some early annotations). Provenance: ?Bonacolsi of Mantua (coat of arms on first text leaf) – early ink annotations in an attractive contemporary hand – George Dunn (1865-1912), of Woolley Hall, near Maidenhead (bookplate) – Charles Stephen Ascherson (1876-1945; bookplate) – Clifford Rattey (bookplate) – W. Senn-Dürck, Basel-Riehen (1904-2001; booklabel); by descent.
Place of origin:Italy, Europe
Auction house category:Antiquarian books, Books and manuscripts, Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
09.07.2025 – 09.07.2025
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.