Title: Auli Gellii Noctium Atticarum, Opus, qua fieri potuit recognitione, ad optima exemplaria nouissime bona fide redditum, 1539
Author: Aulus Gellius
Publisher: Lugduni, Apud Haeredes Simonis Vincentij
Condition: Very Good
A scarce early 16th century edition of Gellius’ famous work, Attic Nights.
The work takes its name from having been started long winter nights he spent in Attica, later being continued and completed in Rome. The work was compiled from an Adversaria (commonplace book of the Roman era), unto which he noted down anything of import he had heard or discovered. From grammar, geometry, philosophy, and more, the Attic Nights were a massive compilation of various pieces of information.
Originally divided into 20 books, 19 survived in their complete state, save for the 8th, with only the index surviving. There are woodcut initials throughout of various designs. There is a contemporary ex libris inscription to the title page.
Worldcat records 14 existing copies of this edition in libraries.
One vellum bound volume in 12mo, (64)+579 pages
On note of condition, this volume is in very good shape, with very little rubbing or wear to the binding. There are several repairs to the title page, one to the upper right corner, one to the bottom, and two to the center. There is some letter loss to the verso, for the dedication to the reader. There is a tear to the lower corner of page 3, not obscuring any text. There is some damp staining to the lower margins throughout.