De Rerum Inventoribus lib. VIII. Eiusdem in dominicam precem commentariolus

New edition. The work was placed on the Index and reissued in 1575 in an expurgated version; the present copy predates that censorship. The first French translation appears to have been published in 1527, according to a copy held at the University of Glasgow, although another source gives 1528 as the date of the first French edition in Latin, printed by Robert Estienne. Rare, as are all editions. Not recorded in the BnF or French library catalogues (except for a 1586 Lyon edition), and absent from many institutional holdings. We have been unable to trace the date of the original edition, likely printed in Italy in the early years of the 16th century, although Grégoire lists 1571 as the first edition, while Brunet gives 1499.
Printed in italic type.
Contemporary full vellum binding.
Wormholes to the spine, a tear to the head of the vellum.

Polydore Vergil (1470–1555) was born and died in Urbino. After studying in Bologna and Padua, he became secretary to the Duke of Urbino and chamberlain to Pope Alexander VI. His first two works brought him great fame and popularity: 'Proverbiorum libellus' and 'De inventoribus rerum', the latter translated into French as 'Les inventeurs des choses'. In 1501, the Pope sent him to England, where he became a close confidant of Henry VII, who commissioned from him a history of England. Through this work, Polydore became the first modern historian, going beyond simple chronicle to interpret events—a method that would influence generations of historians, including Shakespeare’s own historical imagination. He returned to his homeland during the religious upheavals in England. (Catholic Encyclopedia).
Written in the form of short entries, the work explores a wide range of inventions: salt, pottery, painting, linen, music… It also serves as a history of medicine and magic. Polydore Vergil drew extensively from classical sources.