Epitomae in Trogi Pompeii Historias.

JUSTINUS, Marcus Junianus.

$3,500.00

Item Number: 126068

Venice: [Philippus Pincius], c. 1497.

Rare incunable edition of Justinus‘s epitome of the Historia Philippica by Pompeius Trogus. Chancery folio, bound in one quarter vellum over patterned boards with ink titles to the spine, Roman type. In very good condition. Bookplate. Period marginalia. Exceptionally rare, one of the earliest books printed in Roman type, which would influence famed 15th century Venetian printer Aldus Manutius, as well as such latter day designers as William Morris and Bruce Rogers.

This first printing of Justinus was one of the four books produced by Jenson at Venice in 1470, the year that he started his famous press. Updike referred to the work as "never equaled", and Blumenthal said that it "is invested with the mark of genius. His type has great clarity and liveliness, at the same time an element of divine repose". In his own day Jenson's work was highly admired. It influenced the great Aldus, as well as such latter day designers as William Morris and Bruce Rogers. Justinus lived in the third century and is known only for this epitome of Trogus Pompeius' Historiae Philippicae, which was written at the end of the first century B.C. and is now lost except for this abridgement and some excerpts in Pliny. It is a major authority on the history of the lands which comprised Phillip's and Alexander's empires. (Blumenthal, Art of the Printed Book, p. 9. BMC V, p. 167. Goff J-613. Ham 9647. Proctor 4067. Updike, Printing Types I, 73-76).