Macrobius interpretatio in somnium Scipionis a Cicerone confictum. Eiusdem Saturnaliorum libri septem. Haec omnia Nicolaus Angelius

The rare and precious first edition of the works of Macrobius by Niccolo Angeli. The editorial information appears in the colophon, the title page displaying only the full title: Impressum Flor?tiae opera & sumptu Philippi Iuntae. Anno à natiuitate D. XV. supra mille mense Iulio. Leone Decimo Pontifice. The italic typography and that of the entire work should be noted as particularly advanced for its time, especially compared to France, Germany and England where it would be imitated much later, around 1550. 7 vignettes in Scipio's Dream, including Macrobius's representation of the world in 5 climatic zones, a representation that would enduringly mark the Middle Ages. Contemporary full vellum. Smooth unlettered spine. Good copy, very fresh. A classic Renaissance text, the two texts brought together in this edition constitute the major works of Macrobius, who lived around 400 AD and of whom little is known except that he was a Neoplatonic and Stoic philosopher opposed to the increasingly widespread Christianity. The idea of Scipio's Dream is extracted from Cicero's Republic in which he attributes a dream to young Scipio where a conversation takes place between the deceased heroes of the Republic, notably his father and grandfather. The work consists of Macrobius's commentaries, particularly on the constitution of the universe. The second text refers to the Saturnalia, days of celebration for the Romans; Macrobius relates the discussions held in the home of Vettius Praetextatus, the author treating various subjects, mythological and astronomical, medical, citing numerous ancient texts. This book has remained an important source for dating many lost texts and it is also one of the most important texts for Neoplatonism; and above all, it would constitute a model for the 16th century which would abundantly imitate this way of presenting science.