Lot 08312

AMBROISE FIRMIN-DIDOT, “ALDE MANUCE et LHellinisme à Venise / Orne de quatre portraits et d’un fac-simile”, Paris : Typographie d’Ambrosie Firmin-Didot, 1875. First Edition, in 8vo, p. LXVIII,647. With frontispiece (Aldus Manutius) and 4 more engraved plates out of text.

Ambroise Firmin-Didots (1790-1876) classic monograph of Alde Manuce (Aldus Manutius or Aldo Manuzio ca. 1450-1515), the famous Venetian printer, scholar, humanist, typeface inventor, Philhellene, and founder of the Aldine Press. He was well known of his involvement in printing and making available original classic Greek texts, in the context of Hellenism in Venice and elsewhere in the Renaissance. First published in Paris in 1875.

Full calf bound, richly adored with golden fleurons and title on spine, and gilt decorative strip along boards’ edges; rubbed and cracked spine and joints, some edge wear throughout. Coloured (yellow) edge pages, slight foxing inside, but clean and tight. Private collection label. Good copy.