Vita et Aesopus moralisatus.

Accession number: 
PML 15404
Author: 
Aesop.
Published: 
Impressæ Neapoli : [For Francesco del Tuppo], Sub Anno Domini M. CCCC. LXXXV. Die XIII. Mensis Februarii [13 February 1485]
Description: 
[168] leaves : illustrations (woodcuts) ; 33 cm (fol.)
Credit Line: 
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1907.
Notes: 

Title from Goff.
Colophon, leaf [22]/6v: Francisci Tuppi Parthenopei utriusque iuris disertissimi studiosissimiq[ue] in vitam Esopi fabulatoris læpidissimi philosophiq[ue] clarissimi traductio materno sermone fidelissima: & in eius fabulas allegoriæ cu[m] exemplis antiquis modernisq[e] finiunt fæliciter [sic]. Impressæ Neapoli sub Ferdinando Illustrissimo Sapientissimo atq[ue] Iustissimo in Siciliæ Regno triumphatore. Sub Anno Domini M.CCCC.LXXXV. Die XIII. Mensis Februarii.
Printed in type 1:99R, assigned to the so-called "Germani fidelissimi," identified in BSB-Ink and Bod-inc as Cristannus Preller, Johannes Tresser and Martinus de Amsterdam.
Collation: [1-4⁸ 5-6⁶; 7-19⁸ 20-21⁶ 22⁸]: 168 leaves, leaves [1]/1, [6]/6 and [22]/8 blank.
Paper format: Chancery folio
Leaf [1]/2r incipit caption: Francisco del Tuppo Neapolitano allo Illustrissimo Honorato de / Aragonia Gaitano. Conte de Fundi ...
Aesopus moralisatus is the metrical version of Fabulae Lib. I-IV by Anonymus Neveleti (Gualtherus Anglicus?) -- ISTC.
Comprises Del Tuppo's Latin and Italian versions of an anonymous life of Aesop (based on the Latin version of Rinucius), the Latin metrical version of the fables of the Anonymous Neveleti, and Del Tuppo's Italian prose version of the fables with his added morals, historical examples, etc.
88 woodcuts. The woodcuts in the Vita and Fabulae are two different suites.
PML copy leaf dimensions: 25.6 x 18 cm., trimmed.

Binding: 
Modern blind-tooled full red goatskin over paper boards (27 x 20 cm.), sewn on 5 supports by Lortic. Vellum pastedowns and fly leaves; decorative endbands; gilt edges.
Variant Title: 

Vita et fabulae

Inscriptions/Markings: 

Hand decoration: Rubrication unrealized. Annotations: No marginal notations in text. Alpha-numeric manuscript sigantures.

Provenance: 
Unidentified armorial: checkered diagonal band (leaf [7]/1r); unidentified ownership stamp, abraded (leaf [22]/6v); Leo S. Olschki, Choix de livres anciens, rares et curieux, vol. I, no. 1913; Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913), purchased from Olschki, 1907.
Classification: 
Century: 
Department: