Matthaeus Bossus's Epistolae

Matthaeus Bossus's Epistolae
Franciscus de Benedictis and Vincentius Bertochus, 1493 and 1498
BOSSUS, Matthaeus (1428-1502). Epistolae familiares et secundae. Mantua: Vincentius Bertochus, 9 November 1498. [Bound after:] BOSSUS, Matthaeus. Recuperationes Faesulanae. With additions by Philippus Beroaldus. Bologna: Franciscus (Plato) de Benedictis, 20 July 1493.

The Pinelli-Woodhull copy of the first edition of Bosso’s second collection of letters, illuminated, bound with a fragment of the second edition of his first epistolary collection. Abbot of the Austin Canons at Fiesole, Bosso was a neo-platonist who became associated with Marsilio Ficino’s intellectual circle at Fiesole. He conversed and corresponded with Pico della Mirandola, Angelo Poliziano, and other Florentine humanists. HC 3669*, 3671*; GW 4958, 4956; BMC VI 826, VII 934, XII 67; BSB-Ink B-762, B-761; Bod-inc B-490, B-489; IGI 2022; 2019; Goff B1045; B1042; ISTC ib01045000 and ib01042000.

Folio (282 x 191mm). Epistolae: 143 leaves (of 144, without final blank); Fragment: 66 leaves (of 184, without introductory epistle and tabula, and without the text of letters I–CXXXI). Fragment printed in red and black. 4 illuminated white-vine initials spread across both works, smaller red and blue ink initials (some dampstaining/toning to the interior; small hole affecting one illuminated initial). 18th-century red morocco with gilt armorial of Michael Woodhull, edges gilt (some wear to joints; spine sunned and worn). Provenance: marginalia in several hands, some trimmed – Maffeo Pinelli (1736-1785, important Venetian collector, his catalogue no. 8760) – Michael Woodhull (1740-1816; binding and notes on flyleaf) – acquired from H.P. Kraus, New York, 13 April 1955.