Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market
Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market

Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market

$140,000.00
$140,000.00

Title: Aristotle’s Politics, and Nichomachean Ethics, Circa 1275-1300. Likely Paris, France. Extraordinarily Rare Examples of Two Substantial Fragments of Aristotle’s Works from the 13th Century, Scarcely Seen on the Market. Books I-V of Politics, and VIII-IX of Ethics Following the translations of William of Moerbeke
Author: Aristotle; William of Moerbeke
Condition: Good

An extremely rare late 13th century manuscript containing substantial portions of two of Aristotle’s works, being his Politics, or Politica, and his most notable work on ethics, the Nicomachean Ethics, the manuscript likely produced in France during the fourth quarter of the 13th century. The manuscript is written in Latin, a Gothic textura minuscule script, and in a black ink. There are numerous red and blue initials, varying from 2-8 lines in size, richly decorated with decorated vines and spring work. There are also paragraph marks in red and blue.

These two substantial fragments follow the famous translation of William of Moerbeke, who was also the first translator of the Politics into Latin. When referring to Pieter Beullens’ article, Robert Grosseteste and the Fluid History of the Latin 'Nicomachean Ethics', study and comparison displays that this manuscript does not follow Robert Grosseteste or Burgundio of Pisa’s efforts, though it is also easier to determine the translator, as, firstly, neither of them had ever translated Aristotle’s Politics. Given that the Politics were translated by roughly circa 1260, Wiliam’s translation is the only possible candidate at that point for the entire manuscript, as it only seems to follow one concise translation. Though a bit over-optimistic to consider, there is also the small likelihood that this manuscript was potentially produced during Moerbeke’s lifetime, though as he passed away in 1286, and there is no inscribed date, this cannot be guaranteed nor confirmed.

The present manuscript contains sections from Books I-V of Politica/Politics, as well as sections from Books VIII-IX of Ethica/Nichomachean Ethics.

The sections of Politics are broken into the following:

Book I concerns the city or "political community” in comparison with other types of communities and partnerships such as the household, the master/slave relationship, and the village.

Book II concerns and studies various views concerning the best regime, opening with an analysis of the regime presented in Plato's Republic.

Book III concerns citizenship and who counts as a citizen. Aristotle asserts that a citizen is anyone who is "entitled to participate in office, deliberative or judicial".

Book IV concerns political science, where Aristotle raises and answers the following questions:

-        What constitutions are available, and which are best?

-        For any particular world population according to it’s capabilities and circumstances, which constitution is best?

-        What are present state dynamics, how do they wax and wane, and how can individuals affect it?

-        Are there simpler constitutional forms to recommend?

Book V concerns political instability in greater detail, beginning with factionalism.

The present manuscript sections of Nichomachean Ethics are broken into the following:

Books VIII and IX expand upon friendship, first introduced as a core theme in Book II. In these books, Aristotle provides a series of philosophical discussions of friendship, displaying just how important the treatment of friendship is to Aristotle’s ethics as a whole.

This manuscript is written in a 33-line, two column format.

This manuscript bears the provenance and ownership label of one Dr. Gerhad Eis, a German medievalist, professor, medical historian, manuscript collector, and former member of the Nazi Party (membership number 6,587,459 according to Bundesarchiv R 9361-VIII KARTEI/7901349), from 1939 to 1945. Given his rather long history of educational positions, and his Party affiliation, a breakdown of his career is as follows.

A professor from 1937-1945 at the German Commercial Academy in Reichenberg and the Comenius University of Bratislava from 1943-1945, Eis, for extremely obvious reasons, found himself unemployed at the end of the war, later finding his way back into work in 1946 as an assistant at the library of Freising Cathedral.

From 1947-1953, he was appointed as lecturer and eventual head of the German Institute at the Philosophical and Theological College of Bamberg (now known as the University of Bamberg), briefly served as a lecturer from 1949-1950 at the Philosophical and Theological College in Passau (now known as the University of Passau), and lectured from 1950-1955, at the Technical University of Munich. Until 1955, he was appointed associate professor for German Philology and Folklore of the Middle Ages at the University of Heidelberg, later becoming chair of said field in 1957, succeeding Eugen Fehrle. He also took up a visiting professorship at the University of Maryland in 1967, attaining professor emeritus in 1973.

From teaching and publishing material on Old High German, Saxon, and Middle High German language and literature, Eis maintained a focus on the research of the cultural and medical history of the Middle Ages, and the literature of humanism. To no surprise, he also collected medieval manuscripts for his own private collection. What remains of his collection, asides from examples sold at auction, remain with his son, Helko Eis, in the private collection in Heidelberg. There is no historical indication that any of the items in his collection were acquired in an unscrupulous nature.

To the rear pastedown, there is an inscription indicating that Eis acquired this manuscript in August 1940, from the antiquarian bookselling firm P. Dienemann Nachf. (formerly E. Rechenberger), managed by Georg Leukroth (1899–2000) at the time, located in Dresden. Originally located in located on König-Johann-Straße (Wilsdruffer Straße today), the store was later destroyed during the Dresden Bombings in 1945, though Leukroth continued to operate from his personal residence until death, the business later taken over by his daughter, with no plan to continue after her passing.

This manuscript’s 19th century half vellum binding, as well as the notes made by him, indicates the manuscript was already in an incomplete state well before Leukroth acquired it. There is no indication of any prior ownership inscriptions or library marks being removed in an unscrupulous manner.

This manuscript is not recorded on Artloss, or as a lost or missing manuscript on the Schoenberg database, the ILAB Missing Books Registry, or on several of the databases listed on the Holocaust Looted Art and Cultural Property Initiative. Appropriate steps have been taken in researching provenance to confirm whether repatriation of this manuscript is required.

This manuscript comes with the export license granted for its shipment from Bassenge Buchauktionen GbR, located in Berlin, to Canada.

Manuscripts on Aristotle’s works are already rare on the market, and for a manuscript edition that is not simply a commentary, that makes this significantly rarer.

One manuscript in folio, 50 leaves on parchment

This manuscript is in good shape, with some rubbing and wear to the binding, the spine somewhat cracked, and one of the rear corners bent. A good rebind or restoration is advised. About 9 leaves have been subject to trimming of the margins, without text loss. Two more leaves (Folios 40-41) have been trimmed in a very unusual fashion, with some text loss to three lines of text from one column. There is some old staining to the bottom right corner of the leaves, with a bit of parchment loss, not affecting text. There is minor foxing throughout.

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