[BRIGHTENING]. [INCUNABLE]. JUSTINUS ]Page-frontispiece,... - Lot 20 - Ader

[BRIGHTENING]. [INCUNABLE]. JUSTINUS ]Page-frontispiece, from Epitome in Trogi Pompeii Historias Philippicas (Venice, Nicolaus Jenson, 1470) Printed and illuminated folio, on paper, framed with glass on the spine showing the verso of the folio and hand annotations in the margins; ornate initial and a historiated and ornate frameItaly , Venice, 1470 or shortly thereafterDimensions : 140 x 270 mm. Some rubbing, but generally good condition. Frontispiece from the following work: Marcus Justinus Junianus, Epitome in Trogi Pompeii Historias Philippicas. Incipit prefatio: "Cum multi ex Romanis etiam consularis dignitatis viri...". This folio shows a decoration typical of that used in manuscripts and incunabula executed in Padua and Venice, with a decoration of bianchi girari on a blue, dark pink and green background with a scattering of small white dots. The bianchi girari had been adopted from the second quarter of the quattrocento by the Florentine workshops for manuscripts and works by classical authors. Our border is enhanced with figures: triton, Leda and the swan, putto and a kind of dragon. In the lower border, there is a shield, left blank but with an inscription added in ink: "Cortesi". Nicolas Jenson's prints are known for the quality of their typefaces and it is said that Jenson is the "creator of the prototype of the 'Roman' par excellence". Nicolas Jenson was the second printer to be installed in Venice (c. 1469) and thus his edition of Justin is one of the first impressions of this printer, dated 1470. For this edition see: Hain 9647; BMC V, 167 (IB. 19615); Pellechet 6890; IGI 5552; Goff J-613 .