ID 1249781
Lot 118 | EUSEBIUS CAESARIENSIS (c.260-340)
Estimate value
£ 20 000 – 30 000
De evangelica preparatione. Translated by Georgius Trapezuntius. Venice: Nicolaus Jenson, 1470.
Rare first publication from the press of influential printer Nicolaus Jenson, showcasing for the first time ‘the most perfect roman typeface’ (William Morris). We are unable to trace any copy at auction since 1964. Jenson studied the design of moveable type in Mainz from 1458-1461 and opened his printing shop in Venice in 1470, issuing in that year five works of which the present title is believed to be the first. The model for William Morris’s ‘Golden Type’ used at the Kelmscott Press, Jenson’s typeface was ‘the first to be designed in accordance with typographical criteria, free of the conventions of written models. Jenson sought to create ideal individual letters, which by means of subtleties of fit and alignment would combine harmoniously on a page’ (Berry & Poole, Annals of Printing).
‘This roman font is one of the greatest typefaces ever designed. Every Western type designer […] has been influenced by Jenson’ (Goldberg).
The text constitutes the first edition of an introduction to Christianity for pagans by the Father of Church History. It is particularly remarkable for its preservation of non-Christian works which would otherwise have been lost, including a Greek account of the Buddhist three marks of existence, some fragments of a work by Sanchuniathon the Phoenician, and excerpts from the lost works of the Platonists Atticus, Numenius of Apamea, and Porphyry. H 6699* = 6701; GW 9440; Goff E-118; BMC V 167; BSB-Ink E-115; Bod-inc E-047; ISTC ie00118000.
Median folio (334 x 231mm). 142 leaves. 11 contemporary illuminated white-vine initials coloured in blue, pink and green, opening initial with extended 3-sided border incorporating armorial of a tower in lower margin, other initials in blue throughout, early ink foliation to outer corners on verso, preserving ms. index in a humanist hand on vellum (washed, illuminated border rather worn and faded, minor marginal repairs throughout, mostly to gutter but into border on first leaf, variable dampstaining, minor wormholes in first and final few leaves restored in 1935 at the Vatican according to documents tipped onto endpaper). Later vellum (restored). Provenance: ?17th-century inscription on endpaper, partly erased, possibly from a Franciscan monastery – Doria family, counts of Montaldeo, engraved armorial bookplate of ‘Johannis Caroli de Auria ex comitibus Montis Aldei’ – by descent.
Artist: | Eusebius Caesariensis (260 - 339) |
---|---|
Place of origin: | Italy, Europe |
Auction house category: | Antiquarian books, Books and manuscripts, Printed books |
Artist: | Eusebius Caesariensis (260 - 339) |
---|---|
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 |
| |
Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |
More from Creator
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.