ID 1349658
Lot 107 | SUIDAS (10th century)
Estimate value
£ 10 000 – 15 000
Lexicon graecum, in Greek. Edited by Demetrius Chalcondylas. Milan: Johannes Bissolus and Benedictus Mangius, for Demetrius Chalcondylas, 15 November 1499
First printed edition of one of the earliest Greek dictionaries, originally compiled in the tenth century. Known variously as the Suda or Souda, the work has been attributed to an author known as Suidas (the name is derived from the Byzantine Greek word for treasury or stronghold). It includes philological discussions as well as literary and biographical information from earlier writers. The 1499 edition is Johannes Bissolus’ only Milanese printing. Goff S-829; HC 15135*; Klebs 939.1; Bod-inc S-333; BMC VI 792; BSB-Ink S-606; ISTC is00829000.
Folio (344 x 232mm). 516 leaves. Greek and roman types (title stained, lower margin replaced, occasional light marginal dampstain, more noticeable at end, occasional light spotting or small stain). 19th-century diced panelled calf, tooled in gilt and blind, gilt spine (rebacked preserving original backstrip, new endpapers, a few scuffs). Provenance: Horace de Landau (1824-1903; bookplate) – Livio Ambrogio (monogram bookplate).
| Place of origin: | Italy, Europe |
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| Auction house category: | Books and manuscripts, Printed books |
| Place of origin: | Italy, Europe |
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| 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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| Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
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| Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |








