VALERIANUS, Joannes Pierius

by Joannes Pierius Valerianus

£45,000 · Offered by Sokol Books

The first book printed by Blado in his signature Italic (its one or two predecessors were in old fashioned Gothic) and the first edition of this uncommon cosmographical/astrological text. Valerianus (1477-1558) from a poor noble family studied at Venice under Valla and Lascarius before being taken up by Pope Leo X and entrusted with the education of his nephews. He continued in the service of the Medici until the late 1530 s when he returned to study and write. This is Valerianus first published work. Dedicated to Giulio de' Medici, the present work on the meaning of storms , discusses both their scientific causes and their influence as portents on human affairs, including a particularly interesting account of the cosmography of the Etruscans, as well as Roman soothsayers whose purpose was to interpret thunder and lightning as omens. For example he tells the story of the lightning which struck the gates of Florence, interpreted as auguring the election of one of its citizens to the Pontificate. Valerianus also produced a popular and successful edition of the Sphaera of Sacrobosco. Antonio Blado, official printer to the Papacy from 1535 to 1567, and one of the greatest printers of 16th century Italy, acquired in 1537 the celebrated Italic type of the calligrapher Lodovico Arrighi, used here by him 10 years earlier. It is one of the most elegant and famous typefaces of all time and interesting to compare with the Aldine developed in Venice at roughly the same time. Apart from i

• Binding: Hardcover

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