Clemens Alexandrinus / Κλήμης ο Αλεξανδρεύς, “Κλήμεντος Αλεξανδρέως τα ευρισκόμενα άπαντα”, Florence, Laurentius Torrentinus [Lorenzo Torrentino], 1550. Editio princeps. Folio, pp. 42, 1 leaf, 347 (i. e. 359). Printed in Greek. First edition of the Greek text, based on a manuscript of the Bibliotheca Medicea, edited by Piero Vettori. The Florentine humanist Pietro Vettori, that focused in the study of ancient classics, especially Greek texts, envisioned to publish editiones principes of Greek texts to ‘rescue them from the ruins of time’. The printer Lorenzo Torrentino was appointed printer to Cosimo de’ Medici in 1547 and produced for the Medici Press over 250 editions in two decades. The beautiful type used here, “Cervini no. 1”, is considered one of the most elegant sixteenth-century Greek types produced in Italy“ (E. Layton). It was designed by Nikolaos Sophianos for Cardinal Marcello Cervini, friend of Piero Vettori. Cervini, at that time protector of the Bibliothecae Apostolicae Vaticanae, had planned to print the most valuable Greek manuscripts of the Vatican collections. Impressive engraved title page with the Medici coat of arms at the upper corners and Cosimo I de Medici (the dedicatee of this edition) devices like the “tortoise with sail” emblem, symbol of the classical adage “Festina Lente”, the motto of Cosimo’s philosophy. Large engraved wood-cut initials, chapter and tail ornaments. Title with erased ownership entry; faint, very faint, marginal foxing to a few leaves only. 19th century half calf, rubbed along joints and edges. A clean copy with ample margins. BL/STC p. 186; Adams C 2104; Hoffmann I, 455; Dibdin p. 187 (calls the ducal printer Torrentino „an admirable artist“); Brunet II,93 („Bien executée et peu commune“). See also E. Layton, The sixteenth century Greek book in Italy, Venice 1994, p. 299.