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 3) (London, 1814) [Cicognara, 4650-3]

500

MISCELLANEOU S.

[Venice; 1487.

770- Sabellicus. Decades Rerum Venetarum
IV. Printed hy xhidrea de Toresanis de JLsula,
Venice. 1487- Folio.

Editio Princeps. If the lover of fine and legible printing wishes
for a specimen of one of the choieest productions of the XVth century,
let hitn lose no opportunity of obtaining the present impression, when a
reasonable hope of its possession is held out to him. Nor is the work
less intrinsically valuable, than its exterior form is inviting and mag-
nifieent. It has been by such splendid and useful productions, tliat
the earlier annals of the press have acquired such general celebrity. A
nobler book cannot grace the shelves of any collection. On the recto
of the first leaf is a table, in 2 eolunms, in black letter, with this
prefix:

Hecognitio eje eoliatione ^rcijctpgi itngtes£ioni£.

This table occupies 2 leaves. The recto of the 3rd leaf is blank : on
the reverse of it we read as foilows;

M. Antonii Sabellici in tris * Sc triginta suos resse
Venetai?! Libros Epitoma

The work is now wholly executed in the roman eharaeter. This epi-
tome contains 6 leaves, on signature i. Then, on a (i) the prefatory
address of Sabellicus ‘ ad Principem et Patres.’ On a ii, his preface.
On a iii the text of the First Decad begins. The signatures run thus:
a y — then, to y, in sixes. Next, signature A (first book of the Third
Decad) to H in sixes: I to N in eights : N ten, and O four. On the
recto of O 4, the third book of the Fourth Decad ends. The colophon,
beneath, is as follows :

Hoc opus Impressum Venetiis Arte 8c industria optimi
uiri Andreas de Toresanis de Asula Anno
M. CCCCLXXXVII. Die. XXI.

Madii. Augustino Bar
badico Inclyto
principe.

* Si«.