Aldine. VIRGILIO. Virgilius.

In-8vo 150x95 mm. Later binding in full red morocco with gilt aldine anchors within a double rules frame and spine with decorations and gilt title on label. Leaves 220, [1], 2 blank (E6-7), [1]. Aldine device to the title page and to leaf E8v, Colophon on leaf E5r. Dedication by Aldo Manuzio to Pietro Bembo at leaf a1v. Errors in the numbering of the leaves. Copy with Umberto Saba provenance, stamp of his bookshop in Trieste and signature “Frombolo” on the title page. Ex-Libris ‘William Clark’ glued to the inside cover. To the first leaf marginal restorations and minor additions, otherwise a fine copy.

Very rare Aldine edition of Virgil in the edition corrected by errors: the two errata leaves, present in the 1514 edition, are replaced by two blank leaves. Renouard notes: “Il y a, sous la meme date, deux editions bien differentes : l’une extremement correcte, et méritant à tous égards l'estime que lui portoit Nic. Heinsius … l’autre , qui est incontestablement la premiere des deux , est remplie d’une multitude de fautes … Ces deux editions sont très rares ; mais la plus precieuse, quoique la moins ancienne, est bien certainement celle que son texte epuré et sa correction rendent si recommandable” [Yet, at the same time, two very different editions: one extremely correct, and worthy of all respects that he brought Nic. Heinsius ... the other, which is incontestably the premiere of the two, is the answer to a multitude of fautes ... These two editions are very rare; but the most Precieuse, quoique la moins ancienne, est bien certainement cells que sont epuré et sa correction rendernt si recommandable].

Mambelli, referring to the present edition: «the second, however, was executed with every care and deserved the praise of Heinsio and Heyne. This, in place of the Errata, has four blank pages. Renouard believes this corrected edition was not printed before 1519.

The work is dedicated by Aldo to Pietro Bembo, then secretary to Pope Leo X. In the preface note, Aldo praises his editor Andrea Navagero, an Italian poet, orator, and botanist, whom he believes has produced an accurate text worthy of the dedicatee. He also expresses his gratitude to Pietro Bembo's father, Bernardo, who had previously lent him several manuscripts.

A copy of prestigious provenance, once owned by Umberto Saba: stamp of his «Libreria Antica e Moderna» of Trieste on the inside cover and on the endleaf, and signature “Frombolo” on the Titlepage, which refers to Aurelia Gruber Benco, daughter of Silvio Benco.

Renouard, 68, 8; Mambelli, Virgil 124.