Avienus, 1488

AVIENUS, Rufus Festus (fl. 4th century CE). Ora maritima and other poetic material. Venice: Antonius de Strata de Cremona, 25 October 1488.

First edition of a short poetic account of early sea routes used by Greek and Carthaginian traders, bound with a leaf of a Cicero manuscript. The text stems from a single manuscript source. A few scholars have speculated that one of Avienus's sources for his work was the now-lost Massiliote Periplus, a conjectural sailing guide from the sixth century BCE, although this idea is controversial. The flyleaf is a manuscript fragment on vellum of Cicero's Pro Ligario. BSB-Ink A-969; GW 3131; ia01432000.

Quarto (197 x 131mm). 56 leaves [of 122, text of Avienus only, lacking second leaf of dedication]. Small red painted initial (occasional spots and light dampstaining; a few leaves toned). Blindstamped calf to style; 15th-century vellum flyleaf containing the opening page of Cicero's Pro Ligario in humanist script. Provenance: "Astorre di Montevecchio" (inscription on flyleaf dated 1663).