Beschreibung:

HERODOTUS (c.490-c.425 B.C.). Historiae , in Greek. Edited by Aldus Manutius Venice: Aldus Manutius September 1502. Super-chancery 2 (304 x 205mm). Aldine device (Fletcher 2a) on title, device (Fletcher 2) on final verso. Greek types 3:84 (text) and 4:79 (dedication), italic 1:80 (title, dedication), roman 10:82 (register, colophon). 55 lines and headline, initial spaces with guide-letters. (Two sheets in quire AA somewhat soiled and browned, some spotting.) 18th-century red half roan, flat spine gilt (lightly rubbed, small stain on front cover). Provenance : remark on title making a witty reference to Johannes Ludovicus Vives on Herodotus, written in a contemporary hand. EDITIO PRINCEPS of this epic history, telling the story of the Persian invasion of Greece from 490 to 479 B.C.. 'Herodotus is the earliest historian; his predecessors were by contrast chroniclers'. The Herodotus is one of the most important editions prepared by the great scholar-printer-publisher, Aldus Manutius himself. He states in his preface that he corrected Herodotus' text from numerous manuscripts and that Clio (bk. I) is now much longer than one usually finds it, even in Lorenzo Valla's translation. (Valla's translation was based on the so-called Roman family of manuscripts, whereas Aldus was the first to have access to the 'Florentine' codices.) The title inscription is a witticism referring to a comment by Vives on Herodotus as the father of history, which clearly enjoyed common currency. Adams H-394; Hoffmann II, 229; Ahmanson-Murphy 50; PMM 41; Renouard Alde , 35:8.