Leonicenus's Commentum in Ciceronis Oratorem

Leonicenus's Commentum in Ciceronis Oratorem
Johannes de Reno?, 1476
LEONICENUS, Omnibonus (c.1412-1474). Commentum in Ciceronis Oratorem. Vicenza: [Johannes de Reno?], 22 December 1476.

First edition of a Ciceronian commentary by the influential humanist educator, with beautifully illuminated initials. Ognibene Bonisoli was a prolific teacher, translator, and commentator of Classical texts, all in the service of Renaissance Humanist ideals. Those ideals were in many ways exemplified by the figure of Cicero—a silver-tongued orator as well as respected moral philosopher and statesman; this commentary makes that ancient author’s final work on rhetoric accessible to new readers. Hain assigns this edition to Leonardus Achates de Basilea. HC 10030* = HR 10030; BMC VII 1041; BSB-Ink O-48; Bod-inc L-089; IGI 7000; Goff L-171; ISTC il00171000

Chancery folio (287 x 195mm). 176 leaves. Three elaborately illuminated initials, one of which with three-quarter border and defaced armorial; red and blue Lombard initials and paragraph marks (slightly trimmed, including edges of illuminated borders, light spotting). 19th-century morocco gilt. Provenance: Biblioteca Pubblica Fiorentina (closed 1861, stamp) – “MD” (monogram stamp) – purchased from H.P. Kraus, New York, 20 November 1957.