LUCANO, Marco Anneo (39-65 d.C.) - Civilis belli liber primus. Venice: Aldo Manuzio, 1502.   A fresh and well preserved copy of the first Aldine edition of Lucan's "Pharsalia" considered the greatest epic poem after the Aeneid on the theme of the civil war between Pompey and Caesar. The first edition of the work dates back to the Roman publication of Sweynheym and Pannartz in 1469; this is instead based on a Venetian incunabulum of 1493 and was improved by Aldo thanks to a manuscript given to him by Marco Antonio Mauroceno. The work is printed without the Aldine device which will appear for the first time in June 1502, only a few month after this edition published in April.   8vo (154 x 98mm). (Some soiling on title, a small trace of ink in the lower margine of a6 and b6 and the external edge of a few leaves). 19th-century blue morocco with blindstamped fillet, gilt spine and inlays, marbled endpaper (extremities lightly rubbed); preserved in a modern case. Provenance: Caleb Scholefield Mann (1822-1882; armorial bookplate) - Robert Askew Tucker (bookplate dated in pen 1968) - William Salloch (bookseller's ticket).

Estimate € 1,500 - 2,500

Sold € 3,500