M. Annei Lucani Cordubensis Pharsalia diligentissime per G. Versallanu(m) recognita. Cum commentariis. (Lucan's Pharsalia) by Marcus Annaeus Lucanus aka Lucan - 1525: Lucan's Pharsalia in Latin Post-Incunabulum/Post-Incunable

A wonderful opportunity to acquire a post-incunabulum book (1501-1535) with woodcuts for under $1000!

M. Annei Lucani Cordubensis Pharsalia diligentissime per G. Versallanu(m) recognita. Cum commentariis.

Ioannis Sulpitij Verulani eruditionis bonae plenis. Mediolani Impressum Angelu(m) Scinenzler, MDXXV. Loosely translates: Marcus Annaeus Lucanus (aka Lucan) The Battle of Pharsalia or Pharsalus diligently revised by G. Versallanum. With commentaries by Johannes Sulpitius of Verula, a renowned scholar. Printed in Milan by Angelo Scinenzler, 1525. Woodcut portrait of Lucan (presumably) with the title, surrounded by smaller woodcuts on the title page. In addition, about a dozen in-text woodcuts throughout the book.

A 1525 post-incunabulum (aka incunable) book of Lucan's Pharsalia, a Latin epic poem on the Civil Wars between Julius Caesar and the Roman Senate led by Pompey the Great. The climax of the poem is the Battle of Pharsalus (48 BCE) in Central Greece. Includes about a dozen (give or take) in-text woodcut illustrations depicting the historical events as a medieval world rather than an ancient world. It shows ships and castles indicative of the late Middle Ages. It's often been asked whether medieval scholars knew how the ancient world looked. The scholarly consensus seems to be they did but preferred to depict a world closer to their own time as a matter of convention. Size, Binding: Folio, measuring 12 x 9 x 2" (30.5 x 23 x 5 cm), in colored cardboard binding probably dating from circa 1900. The text appears to be complete except for one leaf bound out of order but present. (see below).
Collation: (pagination is by leaf) Blank, title page with center printer's device and woodcut borders (i), a theological argument (ii, verso tp), Tabula Alphabetica/Alphabetical Table (iii-iv), M. Annei Lucani Vite/Life of Lucan (v-vi), Alpha. Table continues (vii-ix) Lucani Vite continues (x-xii), the Main text of Pharsalia begins (Fo I, i.e. Folio 1.), Last page of Main Text (Fo CCLXI, i.e. Folio 261.), collophon last page. Complete in 261 leaves or 522 pages. (NOTE: The Life of Lucan portion may been misbound where the first two pages (the first leaf) were bound within the Table and then the rest bound after. Misbinding of leaves out of order was not uncommon in this period.

Condition: Overall a very good minus example. Title page is present (always a good thing). TP does have a chip to the upper right-hand corner of the title page with a tiny bit of loss to the woodcut border, about 1/2" x 1/2", and fraying to the lower corner with just a hint of loss of the woodcut border. While most of the text is legible with minimal age-toning, there is some fraying to the the edges of the first 25% of the leaves, but not affecting the text. The last 75% of the text-block is intact and in good shape. Most of these kinds of books were used in real ceremonies so the wear is not surprising
NOTE: The pictures are of the actual item for sale. (The picture are NOT stock photos.)
A Word on Incunabula and Post-Incunabula: Incunabula (incunabulum/incunable), coined around the 18th century, refers to books printed during the first half-century of moveable-type printing, circa 1440 to 1500. (The Gutenberg Bible was printed circa 1450-5, the most famous incunabulum) The cut-off is Dec. 31, 1500, a nice round year, but many scholars and collectors realize that book styles and fonts didn't radically change just after 1500. Styles and fonts gradually change from circa 1520 to 1540. So the term "post-incunabula" has come to be more or less accepted, as being books printed circa 1501 to 1535.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All sales are generally FINAL. I do NOT accept returns because of buyer's remorse, "it was a gift but the recipient already had it", or "I found the same book(s) at a better price". I am not selling new items to compete with other retailers. Returns are only accepted because of significant discrepancies regarding edition and/or condition of which I try to be very thorough in researching the edition/printing as well as describing ALL condition issues. So make sure you're 100% positive you desire one of my items before making a purchase.