Beschreibung:

VALERIUS FLACCUS, Gaius (fl. ca.80 A.D.). Argonautica . Bologna: Ugo Rugerius and Doninus Bertochus, 7 May 1474. Chancery 2° (278 x 182mm). Collation: [1-9 8 10 10 ] (1/1r text, 10/9r colophon, 10/9v-10 blank). 81 (of 82, without final blank) leaves. 35 lines. Type 1:98R. 3- to 4-line initial spaces, the first supplied with an initial in blue on pink ground with foliage extensions in colours forming 3/4 border, spaces for headings. (First page foxed and hinged, tiny wormholes filled in first quire, very occasional marginal annotations washed out.) Gold-tooled red morocco over pasteboard, fillets and corner rosette on sides, spine tooled in compartments, gilt turn-ins, yellow endpapers, gilt edges, [by Charles Lewis]. Provenance : Augustus Henry Fitzroy, third Duke of Grafton (1735-1811), faded inscription on first leaf dated 1796 (sale Evans, June 1815, no.579, #30.0.0 to); Sir Mark Masterman Sykes (1771-1823; sale pt.3, Evans, June 1824, no.1165 to Payne for #16.16.0); Botfield, acquired from Payne & Foss ca. 1830s for #24.0.0 (P. & F. Acquisitions, p.91). FIRST EDITION. Valerius Flaccus's treatment of one of the oldest Greek sagas, that of the Argonauts who, led by Jason, set out to recover the Golden Fleece, is independent from that of Apollonius Rhodius (see lot 38). Rather, the Argonautica was most strongly influenced by Virgil. Almost nothing is known of Valerius Flaccus, but it is presumed he died in about 92-93 A.D. before completing the eighth book. Almost as little was known of his work until in 1416 Poggio uncovered a manuscript, now lost again, of part of the Argonautica at the monastery of St. Gall. BMC VI, 805 (IB. 28588, IB. 28588a-b); Goff V-20; IGI 10050; Flodr, Martialis 1