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Isocrates's Orationes

Lot 163
19.10.2023 10:00UTC -04:00
Classic
Sold
$ 27 720
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
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ID 1032814
Lot 163 | Isocrates's Orationes
Estimate value
$ 7 000 – 9 000
ISOCRATES (436-338). Orationes [in Greek]. Edited by Demetrius Chakondylas. Milan: Uldericus Scinzenzeler and Sebastianus de Ponte Tremulo, 24 January 1493.

Georgios Gennadios's copy of the editio princeps of the speeches of Isocrates, illuminated with white vine initials—"very beautifully executed … excessively rare and valuable" (Moss). Isocrates was a famous orator of ancient Athens, and founder of a rival school to Plato's Academy. This edition is the work of the great scholar Demetrius Chalkondylas, who came to Italy in 1447 and, after spending much of his career in Florence, moved to Milan in 1492 where he was associated with the Greek productions of the Scinzenzeler press. This book was the first product of that collaboration, with Greek types based on those of Bonus Accursius. It is "something of a notorious case in the history of bibliography since in 1535 there were still unsold copies, and it was decided to print a fresh title and colophon pages in order to offer to the unsuspecting public what passed for a second edition" (Wilson). This copy, in its first issue and with charming marginalia and illuminated initials, is previously from the collection of the luminary of the Modern Greek Enlightenment, Georgios Gennadios. His son, Joannes, donated his own library to the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, now named for him. Only two other copies are recorded at auction by RBH in the last 50 years. Goff I-210; BMC VI 767; BSB-Ink I-646; Bod-inc I-042; ISTC ii00210000. See Moss p. 110; Proctor, The Printing of Greek in the 15th Century, pp. 70-72; Wilson, From Byzantium to Italy.

Folio (276 x 181mm). Greek types. 195 leaves [of 200, without 2 text leaves BB2.4 (containing text from Against Callimachus) and 3 blanks]. First setting of gathering A as described in BMC. 25 illuminated white-vine initials at headings, smaller stamped red and blue humanist initials, woodcut printer's device at end (first leaf remargined at gutter, some dampstaining, worse at end, and a little worming, affecting text only in final gathering, a few small repairs to blank margins and gutters, some light soiling, occasional leaves toned). Modern vellum with morocco title label. Provenance: marginalia in Greek and Latin (some trimmed) – Georgios Gennadios, 1784-1854 (stamp) – sold Sotheby's 6 July 1959, lot 484 – Frank Dougall Crane, 1897-1976, Wisconsin professor of literature (bookplate).
Artist:Isocrates (436 BC - 338 BC)
Place of origin:Italy
Auction house category:Antiquarian books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
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