SOPHOCLES (c. 496-406 BCE) - photo 1
SOPHOCLES (c. 496-406 BCE) - photo 2
SOPHOCLES (c. 496-406 BCE) - photo 3

SOPHOCLES (c. 496-406 BCE)

Lot 109
11.12.2024 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1349784
Lot 109 | SOPHOCLES (c. 496-406 BCE)
Estimate value
£ 8 000 – 12 000
SOPHOCLES (c. 496-406 BCE)
Tragaediae Septem cum commentariis, in Greek. Venice: Aldus Manutius, August 1502
The Longepierre-Beckford copy of the editio princeps of Sophocles’ surviving tragedies. The first work in which Aldus’ small Greek cursive appears, and the first Greek libello portatile, here in the second issue with the full complement of prefatory material. The plays included are Ajax, Electra, Oedipus tyrannus, Antigone, Oedipus coloneus, Trachiniae, and Philoctetes. Aldus’ Greek Academy is here mentioned for the first time, in both the prefaces and the colophon. Aldine editions were famed for the quality of the texts printed, and at least two manuscripts were always used: 'The humanists, with the Aldine edition, thus had in their possession a very acceptable text of Sophocles…Proof of this is the number of Greek editions which will refer to the Aldine. Thus the editions of Simon de Colines (Paris, 1528) and Joachim Camerarius (Hagneau, 1534) take up the Greek text of Aldus' (Elie Borza, 'Venice, Rome and Florence: four examples of editions of Sophocles in Italy in the sixteenth century,' L’information litteraire, vol. 54, no. 4, 2002, pp. 13-22). Renouard 34.6; Hoffmann III, 411; Adams S-1438.

Octavo (167 x 102mm). 196 leaves, with 3 blanks, woodcut Aldine anchor device on final verso. Title-page in Greek and Latin with Contents (very occasional faint browning at fore-margin). 18th-century French red morocco gilt with Longepierre Golden Fleece emblem at centre, corners and spine compartments, green morocco pastedowns with same emblem at centre, edges marbled and gilt. Provenance: [Hilaire-Bernard de Requeleyne, baron de Longepierre, 1659-1721 (binding, catalogue slip citing this and Beckford provenance) – William Beckford, 1759-1844, sale 1882, n.2105] – André Langlois (booklabel) – Livio Ambrogio (monogram bookplate).
Place of origin:Italy, Europe
Auction house category:Books and manuscripts, Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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11.12.2024 – 11.12.2024
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