Eusebius Caesariensis. Chronicon, in an English binding, Venice, Erhard Ratdolt, 1483.

Eusebius, Caesariensis. Chronicon, translated from Greek into Latin by St.Jerome, with continuations by Prosper Aquitanus (to 448), Matthaeus Palmerius Florentinus (to 1448), and Matthaeus Palmerius Pisanus, edited by Johannes Lucilius Santritter, collation: [*12] a-v8 x10, c.130 ff. (of 182), plus fragments of 6 ff., printed in red and black, 34 and 42 lines, Gothic and some Roman type, woodcut initials, 8 ff. torn at head with loss, stained at head, some spotting, endpapers of remnants of a 15th century accounts manuscript (loose), contemporary English blind-stamped panelled calf over wooden boards, metal clasps, central panels with rose tools within a criss cross pattern composed of 3 blind-stamped filets, lacking backstrip, corners worn, rubbed, small 4to (232 x 172mm.), Venice, Erhard Ratdolt, 13 September, 1483.

⁂ Second edition; the first with the addition up to 1481 by Matteo Palmieri of Pisa, of the most important chronological compendium of ancient times. On v3 verso, for the year 1457, Palmieri mentions Johann Gutenberg and the invention of printing, which he dates to 1440. The condition of the binding on this copy allows us a fascinating insight into the make-up of an early binding, with the 15th century manuscript remnants used as endpapers a charming addition.

Literature: BMC V, 287; Goff E-117; HC 6717*; GW 9433; Bod-inc E-040; BSB-Ink E-109.