PRINTED BOOKS (continued 2)
Reading edition
Following the usual alphabetical order of the signatures (A-Z, aaa-eee), the Index rerum et sententiarum (sign. U-Z) is here placed before the Interpretationes (sign. aaa-eee). This is contrary to the direction of the Collectio codicum found on the last leaf of the Index (Z6), where the order prescribed is A-T, aaa-eee, U-Z, which is further supported by the colophon and printer's device on Z6. The Index as the latest supplement was meant to stand at the end of the volume.
Bound in oak boards covered with stamped leather, brass corners and bosses, gilt gauffred edges. Around the central boss of the back cover is stamped the date A.D. 1571, and on the front cover, in corresponding position and order, the initials F E P L P F.
From the Osterley Park sale, May, 1885, with the book-plate of Victor Albert George Child Villiers, Earl of Jersey. Leaf 6 1/2 × 4 1/2 in.
36. PHILO JUDÆUS. De divinis decem oraculis. Lutetiæ, apud Carolum Stephanum, 1554.
Title: Philonis Iudæi DE DIVINIS DECEM oraculis, quæ summa sunt legum capita Liber, Iohanne Væuræo interprete. [Printer's device] LVTETIAE, Apud Carolum Stephanum, Typographum Regium. M.D.LIIII.
Octavo. 72 numbered pages, followed by one leaf Ad lectorem and one blank. Pp. 3-6, dedication by the translator to Charles de Guise, Cardinal de Lorraine, Archbishop of Reims, to whom was also dedicated the first edition of the works of Philo in Greek, printed by Turnebus, Paris 1552. Printed on vellum. On p. 7 a beautiful seven-line engraved initial R. The device is that chosen by the printer's brother Robert, the olive tree and the motto Noli altum sapere, without the addition sed time.
Renouard, Annales de l'impr. des Estienne, 2e éd., p. 106; adds to his description of the volume the following note: "Dédié au cardinal de Lorraine, pour lequel il en fut tiré sur vélin un exemplaire que depuis l'on a vu relié en maroq. jaune ancien, avec une tête en or sur la couverture. Il a passé dans une Bibliothèque inconnue." The present copy answers completely to this description and is without doubt the dedication copy in question. The binding (17th cent.) is yellow morocco, browned by age, gilt edges, with a medallion head in gold embossed on the back cover. Within are written names of former owners; on the title page N. Tetel, 1644 datum Remis and Claude Henry Corrard; on the cover linings ex Libris Claudii Tetel ad Mussey(?); Ce livre appartient à mlle Jean Collot.
By an oversight Renouard omitted this volume from his list (p. 271) of "Editions Stéphaniennes dont on connoit un on plusieurs exemplaires imprimés sur vélin." It increases the number to twenty-three, seventeen of them printed by the first Henri and only six by his descendants.
Charles Estienne (1504?-1564), a member of a second remarkable family of scholar-printers of the sixteenth century, whose history forms so interesting a parallel to that of Aldus and his descendants, though he does not rank with his brother Robert, or Robert's son the second Henry, certainly brought no discredit on the family name. He was educated as a physician, but when Robert withdrew to Geneva to escape the persecutions of the Sorbonne, he took charge of the Paris press and conducted it with ability from 1551 to 1561, printing one hundred volumes and receiving the appointment of king's printer. Aside from this attractive volume no vellum copy of his books is known.
From the Wodhull sale, with the Wodhull arms stamped in gold on the front cover. Mem. within: "Payne's sale. £3 3s. M. Wodhull, Apr. 14th 1792. Collat & complet." On the last blank leaf is entered the date "Oct. 17th 1808," a record possibly of a later "visitation." Similar dates, some years later than the date of purchase are found on the end leaves of other Wodhull books. Leaf 7 × 4 1/2 in.
Transcriber's Note:
The following inconsistencies found in the text have been retained:
head-line / headline Homiliæ / Homiliae (in referring to the same book) De Vinne / DeVinne Prohemye / Proheyme