PLATINA, Bartholomaeus (1421–1481). Vitae pontificum. [Venice]: Johannes de Colonia and Johannes Manthen, 11 June 1479.

First edition of Platina’s Lives of the Popes. Platina was an Italian humanist, historian and gastronomist. After studying in Florence, he obtained a position in the papal chancery under the noted humanist Pope Pius II. Dismissed from this position by the anti-humanist Pope Paul II, he eventually found his fortunes restored when the strongly pro-humanist Pope Sixtus IV appointed him to the position of Vatican librarian. His Lives of the Popes, written at Sixtus IV’s request, was the first work to systematically present the history of the papacy from the time of Saint Peter through the reign of Paul II, while also giving space to Roman history and themes of Antiquity. Platina unsurprisingly paints Pius II in a bad light. HC *13045; BMC V 235; BSB-Ink P-565; Bod-inc P-342; CIBN P-443; GW M33887; Goff P-768; ISTC ip00768000.

Chancery folio (306 × 205mm). 240 leaves. 2 large illuminated initials, one in liquid gold on blue and mauve ground and one in blue on mauve ground, both with foliate spray extensions; red and blue Lombard initials, yellow capital strokes (small marginal worming at front, a few other smudges and stains). Contemporary calf ruled in blind (rebacked in the 18th-century with some later restorations, without straps and catchplates). Provenance: neat contemporary Latin marginalia by several different readers, one mixing Latin and Greek, and a few doodled faces and flourishes – Cornelius Papens (16th/17th-century inscription) – Louvain, Oratorians, founded 1611 (18th-century inscription ‘Oratorii Lovaniensis’ on first blank page) – [Duke of Arenberg provenance according to Kraus] – Ned J. Nakles (his sale, Christie’s, New York, 17 April 2000, lot 106).