24th ILAB International Antiquarian Book Fair - Vereinigung der ...

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Aristoteles (384–322 a. C.). Άριστοτέλους
ἄπαντα. Opera quaecunque extiterunt omnia:
quae quidem ut antea integris aliquot libris
supra priores aeditiones omnes a nobis aucta
prodierunt … Basel, Johann Bebel e Michael
Isengrin, March 1550. Two parts in a volume
in folio (mm 345 × 220). (16), 572, (2) pp. Each
part with separated title. Greek, roman and
italic type. Printer device on title pages and on
verso of last leaf (Heitz-Bernoulli, 149). Woodcut
decorated capital letters. German blindstamped
pigskin binding dated 1551, oven
wooden boards richly decorated with flower
and palmette tools, and a beautiful roll with
Mary and Child, Saint Peter and King David
with harp. Spine with four raised-bands, with
title in brown ink on leather tassel ‹Aristotelis
Opera oîa graece D. Erasmi. Basil. 1550.
Edit. rara›. Some losses to the corners. A very
beautiful copy, light water-stained the outer
margins of the first quires, one small wormhole
on the blank outer margin of the second
part. CHF 120 000.–
Provenance: on title page manuscript inscription
‹Bibliothecae J. Niesert, past: in Velen, 1819 – Editio
perrara›, from the library of the catholic theologian
Joseph Niesert (Münster 1766-Velen 1841),
purchased at Münster in 1843. Numerous Greek
and Latin marginals, by ancient German hands; on
the first inner board and on margins some leaves
notes by Philipp Melanchthon’s hand.
Extraordinary copy which belonged to the Reformer
and Praeceptor Germaniae Philipp Melanchthon
(1497–1560) of the third Basle edition of Aristotle’s’
works. – Aristotle is central in Melanchthon’s
Philobiblon
Filippo Rotundo
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thought and writings. He called himself homo peripateticus
and his learning at Wittenberg University
was mostly devoted to the Ethica Nicomachea,
whose reading was essential also in the redaction
of the Loci communes rerum theologicarum, the
work of his life, issued at the first in 1521 and printed
several times in enlarged and revised form. In
this copy of Aristotle’s works the marginal notes by
Melanchthon’s hand – regarding relevant concepts
in his moral and theological doctrines, like consciousness,
consolation, law, justice and equality
– have an immediate and direct connection with
the new edition of the Loci theologici printed in
1550 and with some letters and prefaces written in
the same year. This volume is then a concrete and
precious testimony of the continuous and always
new dialogue between the Greek philosopher and
Melanchthon, who was deeply convinced that for
knowing God and Christian truths was better read
Aristotle than Luther.
Adams A, 1732; VD16 A, 3281; STC German, 40;
Hoffmann, i, p. 273; Hieronymus, Griechischer
Geist aus Basler Pressen, nr. 115; Cranz-Schmitt
108.174; Corpus Reformatorum. Philippi Melanthonis
Opera quae supersunt omnia, vii, ed. K.G.
Bretschneider, Halae Saxonum 1840, col. 684–688;
xxi, ed. K.G. Bretschneider, H.E. Bindseil, Halae
Saxonum 1854, col. 934–955; M.J. Husung, Joseph
Niesert. Aus dem Leben eines Gelehrten westfälischen
Büchersammlers, «Westfälische Studien»,
1928, p. 119–124; G. Müller, Die Aristoteles-
Rezeption im deutschen Protestantismus in Die
Rezeption der Antike, Hamburg 1981, pp. 55–70;
W. Thüringer, Die Melanchthonhandschriften der
Herzog August Bibliothek, Frankfurt a.M. 1982;
Melanchthons Briefwechsel. Regesten, bearb.
v. H. Scheible u. W. Thüringer, 7, Stuttgart-Bad
Cannstatt 1993, nr. 6775.
104 24th ILAB International Antiquarian Book Fair