Bod-Inc: S-214
Simoneta, Johannes
Commentarii rerum gestarum Francisci Sfortiae.
Analysis of Content
a1r Puteolanus, Franciscus: ‘Oratio' [addressed to] Ludovicus [Maria] Sforza. Incipit: ‘[S]oleo mecum subinde mirari tuam Ludouice Sphortia princeps candidissime summam omnibusque numeris perfectam sapientiam . . .’ Saxius 472-3.
a2v Simoneta, Johannes: Commentarii rerum gestarum Francisci Sfortiae. ‘Praefatio'.’ Incipit: ‘[L]egenti mihi nonnunquam princeps illustrissime et dum per otium liceret . . .’ Saxius 474.
a3v Simoneta, Johannes: Commentarii rerum gestarum Francisci Sfortiae. Incipit: ‘[R]egnante Iohanna secunda Karoli regis filia . . .’ De rebus gestis Francisci Sfortiae commentarii, ed. G. Soranzo, Rerum italicarum scriptores, ns, 21/2 (Bologna, 1932-59); see also G. Ianziti, ‘The First Edition of Giovanni Simonetta's De rebus gestis Francisci Sfortiae commentarii: Questions of Chronology and Interpretation', Bibliothèque d'humanisme et renaissance, 44 (1982), 137-47.
O8r [Colophon.]
O8v Philelphus, Franciscus: [Letter addressed to] Johannes Simoneta. Incipit: ‘[L]egi et perlibenter quidem Iohannes Simoneta eos commentarios . . .’ Dated 8 June 1479. Saxius 475.
Imprint
Imprint: Milan: Antonius Zarotus, 23 Jan. [1482?]. Folio.
Remarks: A six years' privilege for this book was granted by the Duke of Milan to the printers on 6 July 1481. For dating of the printing of the book see BMC; G. Ianziti, Humanistic Historiography under the Sforzas (Oxford, 1988), at 211-19 argues that printing was finished in 1483.
Collation
Collation: a–z A–E8 F G6 H–K8 L6 M N8 O10.
References
ISTC: is00532000
Hain: HC 14753 = HR 14754;
Goff: Goff S‑532;
BMC: BMC VI 718;
Proctor: Pr 5804;
Others: CIBN S‑278; Hillard 1856; Oates 2253; Sheppard 4860-1. Microfiche: Unit 4: Chronicles and Historiography: Part I, CH 88.
LCN: 14125571
Copies
Copy number: S-214(1)
Wanting the blank leaf O10. Sheets C3.6 and C4.5 bound in reverse order.
Binding: Nineteenth-century(?) gold-tooled blue morocco by Simier. Gilt-edged leaves, pink silk pastedowns; blue silk bookmark.
Size: 338 × 242 × 50 mm.
Size of leaf: 325 × 218 mm.
A few pointings hand and a ‘nota de discordia' on c3, in a contemporary hand in light brown ink.
Initials are supplied in red and blue within a ground made of violet or red floral and foliate pen-work decoration.
Provenance: Raymundus de Luppis (Lupi, †1484); bequeathed his library to the Dominicans of S. Maria Gratiarum, Milan; partially erased inscription on O9r: ‘Iste liber est Conuentus [St]e M[arie Gratiarum?] M[edio]l[an]i [ ] ex legato [ ] D. Ray[mun]di de Luppis'. Catalogue of . . . the Library of a Gentleman (London: Christie & Manson, 8 Mar. 1847), lot 1007. Purchased for £2. 6. 0; see Books Purchased (1847), 33.
SHELFMARK: Auct. 2Q 1.24.
Copy number: S-214(2)
Wanting a1, the place of which is taken by a pen-and-ink facsimile; also wanting the blank leaves O9-10.
Binding: Nineteenth-century gold-tooled diced russia; gilt-edged leaves; marbled pastedowns.
Size: 338 × 235 × 45 mm.
Size of leaf: 328 × 215 mm.
Some marginal notes, mainly extracting key words and summarizing key points, in a sixteenth-century hand in brown ink.
On a1v the initial ‘S' is supplied in purple and blue with floral ends within a shield-like gold ground decorated with two blue balls; on a2v and a3v initials are supplied in gold within a square half blue half red ground decorated with gold pen-work decoration, the area defined by the letter is decorated with white (a2v) or yellow (a3v) pen-work decoration; from the left margin of the letters gold dots and strawberries extend into the margin. Other initials are supplied in black.
Provenance: J. T. Hand (fl. 1834-1837); signature on verso of the front endleaf; purchased at his sale (1837), lot 254, for £0. 11. 0; see Books Purchased (1837), 36.
SHELFMARK: Auct. 2Q 2.41.
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