Lactantius's Opera

Lactantius's Opera
Andreas de Paltasichis and Boninus de Boninis, 1478 [but 1479]
LACTANTIUS, Lucius Coelius Firminianus (c.250-c.325). Opera. Venice: Andreas de Paltasichis and Boninus de Boninis, 12 March 1478 [but 1479.]

The works of the “Christian Cicero,” with a richly gilt floral border and initial. Ninth edition. The first edition of this Late Antique African author was the first dated book printed in Italy, by Sweynheym and Pannartz in 1465—the fact that it reached nine editions by the end of the 1470s suggests Lactantius’s importance to Renaissance humanists as a Christian mediator of Classical culture and, especially, a model of superior Latin style. This edition was the only book printed by Andreas de Paltasichis, a Dalmatian, in partnership with Boninus de Boninis of Ragusa. The colophon of this edition, although dated 1478, acknowledges Doge Mocenigo, who did not enter that office until 1479. HC 9813*; BMC V 251; BSB-Ink L-8; Bod-inc L-010; IGI 5626; Goff L-8; ISTC il00008000.

Chancery folio (290 x 202mm). 212 leaves (of 214, without blanks). Greek and Roman types. First gathering bound at end. Leaf B1 richly gilt with full illuminated floral border, initial M, and wreathed armorial (occasional light spotting at edges). 17th-century gilt-stamped calf (upper joint cracked but steady, some wear to boards and loss to spine). Provenance: copious marginalia, which a note on the flyleaf suggests may be by Phillipus Beroaldus – acquired from Lathrop C. Harper, Inc, New York, 22 March 1956.