Orationes

Lot 2
16.10.2025 00:00UTC +01:00
Classic
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
ID 1471925
Lot 2 | Orationes
Estimate value
$ 15 000 – 20 000
CICERO, Marcus Tullius (106–43 B.C.). Orationes. Edited by Ludovicus Carbo. Venice: Christophorus Valdarfer, [not after 9 November] 1471.

One of two editions printed in 1471, one of which is the editio princeps. Cicero’s speeches range in subject matter—from addressing political turmoil to championing arts and culture—and have remained seminal to the field of rhetoric from Antiquity through the Middle Ages to today. His orations first appeared in print in 1471 either from Sweynheym and Pannartz’s press at Rome or from Valdarfer at Venice with the present edition, whose colophons states that it was printed in the reign of the Cristoforo Moro, 67th Doge of Venice, who died on 10 November. No copy has sold at auction in over 50 years (RBH). HCR 5122; BMC V 183; Bod-inc C-242; CIBN C-426; Essling 218; GW 6765 (+ Accurti (1936) p.112); Goff C542; ISTC ic00542000.

Median folio (322 × 216mm). 275 leaves (of 276, without first blank, collates as in BMC (1963)). Illuminated arms of the Milanese branch of the Mariani family in lower margin of a1 (sable a lion rampant or in majesty, armed and langued gules), illuminated opening initial "Q" with typically northern Italian Renaissance white-vine decoration, grounds for illuminated capitals in red, blue and green left unilluminated (repaired lower gutter in every leaf from * to g and occasional repaired tears thereafter, first leaf soiled with additional repairs, occasional stains and toning). Early 20th-century brown morocco [by Leighton?], covers and spine tooled in gold and in blind, spine lettered in gold, edges gilt (joints rubbed, few light scratches). Provenance: Mariani (illuminated armorial) – few early Latin annotations – Charles Butler (1821–1910; bookplate; his sale, Sotheby’s, London, 30 May 1911, lot 1488) – Howard Lehman Goodhart (1884–1952; label; gifted to his daughter:) – Phyllis Goodhart Gordan (1913–1994; leather label); by descent.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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02.10.2025 – 16.10.2025
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