De rerum inventoribus libri octo

New edition for Polydore Vergil's book of inventions and first edition for Cicero's sentences. Fine italic impressions. Printer's devices on the title page. The Cicero edition is absent from English catalogues.

De rerum inventoribus was placed on the Index and republished in 1575 in an expurgated form, and the edition we present is therefore not expurgated. The first French translation appears to have been published in 1527 according to a copy at the University of Glasgow, although contradictory information gives 1528 as the date of the first French edition in Latin by Robert Estienne. Brunet gives 1499 for the date of the first edition.

Half marbled blonde sheep binding, early 19th century. Smooth spine with three fleurons. Beige title and volume labels. Missing endpaper on upper board of volume 1 and on lower board of volume 2. Very fresh interior.

Vergil's book of inventions had lasting success in the 16th century. It is the very type of Renaissance book, blending legendary accounts and historical sources. In the form of articles, it treats all sorts of inventions: salt, pottery, painting, linen, music... The book is also a history of medicine and magic. Polydore Vergil naturally drew abundantly from the Ancients. 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 Alexander VI. His first two writings made him famous and were very popular: Proverbiorum libellus and De inventoribus rerum (in French Les Inventeurs des choses). In 1501 the Pope sent him to England, where he became intimate with Henry VII, who commissioned him to write a history of England through which Polydore became the first modern historian. Not content with establishing a simple chronicle but studying events, he influenced all future historians and even Shakespeare in his vision of history. He returned to his native country during the religious changes in England.

The edition of Cicero's maxims and sentences was provided by Pierre Lagnier at Robert Estienne.