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The 1522 Aldine Press Edition of the First Numismatic Book

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The 1522 Aldine Press Edition of the First Numismatic Book
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Budé, Guillaume. LIBRI V. DE ASSE, & PARTIB. EIUS. Venetiis in Aedibus Aldi, et Andreae Asulani Soceri Mense Septembri. M.D.XXII. 8vo [21 by 14 cm], later full vellum over boards; spine lettered in gilt. (12), 262 [actually 260 leaves as issued, numbers 158, 159 & 160 being combined on 1 leaf, so headed], (2) printed leaves; woodcut printer’s device of the anchor and the dolphin on title and verso of colophon; capital spaces with guide letters in very small lower case. Occasional marginal ink annotations in Latin in an early hand. Only occasional signs of wear. Near fine. A lovely copy of an exceptional early edition of the first printed numismatic book. Initially published in 1514, Budé’s work was immensely popular until well into the seventeenth century. It was dedicated to Jean Grolier, treasurer of France and a famous early bibliophile. This 1522 edition was printed at the famous Aldine Press in Venice and is one of the earliest works printed in italic type. Aldus Manutius, the founder of the press, designed and first employed italic type, which is said to be based on the handwriting of Petrarch. He is widely considered the finest printer of the Italian Renaissance. [Online description truncated: see printed or PDF catalogue for full description.]