Dibdin, Thomas Frognall; Spencer, George John [Bearb.]: Bibliotheca Spenceriana: or a descriptive catalogue of the books printed in the fifteenth century, and of many valuable first editions, in the library of George John Earl Spencer (Band 2) (London, 1814) [Cicognara, 4650-2]

180

ANCIENT CLASSICS. [Aldus; Venice.

On the recto of the ensuing leaf, sign. b, we have the Latin version
of the Greek verses of Marcus Musurus, noticed as being on the re-
verse of the second leaf. On the reverse, commences the version of
the Greek poem; which, at the 9th and 10th pages, is interrupted by
some Greek and Latin verses of Antipater, above two very curious
wood-cuts, each page having one cut. The local scenery in these two
cuts is the same. Part of the one, representing Hero upon the tower
—and a part of the other, representing the same personage, leaping
from the window of the tower—is strictly as follows :

In both cuts Leander is swimming across the Hellespont; but in
the latter, beneath the tower, he also lies dead upon the shore. The
version of the poem continues on the reverse of fol. 17, andoecupies
the ten following pages. At the end, and on the recto of the 22nd
and last leaf, we read tlie word ‘ finis.’ The reverse is blank. It is
justly observed by Renouard that the roman type, in this version, is
much inferior in beauty to what was used by Aldus in Cardina
Bembo’s treatise, entitled ‘ De iEtna.’

The present may almost be called a matchless copy of this very rare
and interesting little volume. It is bound in red morocco.