Suida [Suda] Venice: Aldus, February 1514

Lot 120
13.07.2022 10:30UTC +00:00
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£ 11 340
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ID 794587
Lot 120 | Suida [Suda] Venice: Aldus, February 1514
Estimate value
£ 10 000 – 15 000
Suida [Suda]. Venice: Aldus, February 1514

First Aldine edition in handsome red morocco. The Suidas is part grammatical dictionary and an encyclopaedia in the modern sense explaining the source, derivation, and meaning of words according to the philology of the period, using earlier authorities such as Harpokration and Helladios. It is the articles on literary history that are particularly valuable. In these it gives details and quotations from authors whose works are otherwise lost. The Suidas also contains much material for early church history. The first edition of this tenth-century Byzantine encyclopaedia providing a wealth of references to ancient sources, many now lost, was published by Bissolo and Mangio in Milan in 1499. The Aldine edition is based on a different manuscript; Renouard notes that this edition is 'often better, many lacunae are thankfully filled'. Adams S-2062; Ahmanson-Murphy 119; CNCE 37492; Renouard p.70. 



Folio (325 x 210mm). Text in double column, ruled in red throughout, woodcut Aldine device on the title-page and final verso (light spotting and light soiling on first and last leaves, faint dampstain in some fore-margins, occasional light marginal spotting, small repair to r3, H3.6 misbound as outer sheets of quire H, z2 bound upside down). English 18th-century red morocco, sides bordered with triple gilt rule, spine gilt in compartments centred with urn tools, gilt turn-ins, gilt edges (extremities lightly rubbed, light wear). Provenance: Matthew Raine (1760-1811, headmaster of Charterhouse School; manuscript title inscription). William, 6th Lord Monson (1829-1898; label on rear pastedown).





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