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MANUALE DI EPITTETO.
(Parma: Nel Regal Palazzo co'tipi Bodoniani, 1793). 140 x 98 mm. (5 1/2 x 3 7/8"). 2 p.l. (first blank), 97, [1] pp., [1] leaf (blank). Rendered into the vernacular by Eritisco Pilenejo [Luca Antonio Pagnini]. UNIQUE (per Dibdin) VELLUM COPY (plus 50 on paper).
Modern half calf over blue marbled boards, smooth spine divided into panels by gilt rules, tan morocco label. Brooks 490; Dibdin I, 518; Brunet II, 1015.
Faint discoloration to marbled boards and turn-ins from binder's glue, a hint of bowing to boards, slight (naturally occurring) variations in color and grain of vellum, but quite a fine copy, the leaves very creamy and the binding unworn.
From the library of the distinguished collector and bibliographer Antoine-Augustin Renouard, this lovely little vellum impression of Pagnini's "elegant and accurate" Italian translation of Epictetus' "Enchiridion" is apparently the only one of its kind. Dibdin indicates that the 1793 Epictetus was issued in quarto and octavo formats "printed in the usual beautiful style of the works from Bodoni's press." The quarto issue contains the text in both Greek and Italian, but for our octavo edition, Dibdin tells us the Greek and Italian texts were printed separately, each in a run of 50 copies, each with only one copy on vellum. Of the Italian copy on vellum, Dibdin says, "This latter unique copy is in the library of M. Renouard." RBH lists some copies of the octavo edition that include both the Greek and Italian, but these were presumably copies made up by a binder from the separate printings. The former slave Epictetus (ca. 50 - ca. 135 A.D.) set forth in this guidebook the Stoic doctrines of transcendent unity with divinity, of universal brotherhood, of a high moral purpose, and of indifference to the blows of fortune. He is one of our major sources for Stoicism, especially since the writings of the school's founder, Zeno, had been lost already by the sixth century. It is widely believed that Epictetus wrote nothing himself, but what he said--primarily in lectures delivered in Greece--was transcribed by his pupil Arrian. Our edition was translated by Carmelite friar Luca Antonio Pagnini (1737-1814), a professor of Greek at the University of Parma, who sometimes used the pseudonym Eritisco Pilenejo or his name in religion (Giuseppe) for the work he did for Bodoni. Printer, punch-cutter, and type designer Giambattista Bodoni (1740-1813) worked for more than 20 years at the Royal press in Parma before obtaining permission to set up his own private press in 1791. Brooks says that "he took his printing in all its branches very seriously, labored incessantly to perfect his type, had a fine artistic sense, . . . and produced books not only of a very high standard, but also showing a remarkably distinct individuality." Bodoni used the finest quality paper--and vellum--available, and his clear, beautiful types have been envied and copied for many generations. The luxurious vellum used for this edition is unsurprisingly of very high quality, and provides the best possible foundation for Bodoni's exquisite typeface and sophisticated layout, with its vast margins. (ST21211)
Price: $7,800.00