A PRINTED LEAF FROM LEAF FROM SALLUST'S "LA CONJURACIÓN DE CATILINA Y LA GUERRA DE JUGURTA."

(JOAQUIN IBARRA).

(Madrid: Joaquin Ibarra, 1772). 351 x 252 mm. (13 7/8 x 10"). Single column, 20 lines in a very attractive italic type (with double column, 12 lines of footnotes in a roman type).Translated by Infante Gabriel of Spain.

See Dibdin, p. 387; and Glaister, p. 185. Small rust stain to the margin, a few minor marginal spots, but a fine leaf, fresh and bright with wide margins.

This leaf demonstrates two of the types used by Spain's great 18th century typographer. Chosen as court printer to the Spanish king Carlos III, Joaquin Ibarra (1725-85) had a celebrated career that featured two remarkable achievements, the beautiful Royal Academy edition of "Don Quixote," generally considered to be the finest version of the work ever produced, and the edition of Sallust's account of the Jugurthine War, translated by the prince of Spain, from which the present leaf originates. Influenced by the stately typefaces of Bodoni, Didot, and Baskerville, Ibarra established such a wide and considerable reputation that, in Glaister's words, he made a major contribution to "raising the standards of printing, not only in Spain, but in Europe generally." Dibdin wrote of this edition that "the printing and the paper are entitled to every praise. . . the annals of the press can boast of no more perfect volume than this.". (ST21110)

Price: $75.00