HYGINUS, Caius Julius (Pseudo?, fl. 2nd century CE). Poetic...

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Fine Books & Manuscripts

By Potter & Potter Auctions

Feb 26, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-02-26 12:00:00 2022-02-26 12:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Books & Manuscripts https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/potter-potter/fine-books-manuscripts-21955
Our first book sale of the year features an array of items not seen on the market in over a century. Among the Americana lots crossing the block is one of the rarest and important Revolutionary War narratives, being Ethan Allen’s account of his captivity in British prisons printed in 1779. Prices Realized Potter & Potter Auctions info@potterauctions.com

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  HYGINUS, Caius Julius (Pseudo?, fl. 2nd century CE). Poeticon astronomicon. Edited by Jacobus Sentinus and Johannes Lucilius Santritter. Venice: Thomas de Blavis de Alexandria, 7 June 1488. Chancery 4to (205 x 140 mm). 56 leaves. Woodcut illustrations and diagrams with hand?coloring (several neat notations in red near woodcuts and margins in a contemporary hand). Modern vellum, leather lettering?piece gilt, ties (few leaves with tiny stains, mostly at margins, else fine). AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO THE ANCIENT SCIENCE OF THE SKY. This edition is based on that of Ratdolt, copying its woodcuts?which were the first printed illustrations of the ancient figurative heavens and much copied by contemporary publishers, including Aldus. The Poeticon astronomicon explains the basics of astronomy and the zodiac in verse, mingling science with myth and iconography. Although attributed to Caius Julius Hyginus, superintendent of the Palatine library, this work was likely composed in the second century CE, perhaps as an abridgement or epitome of a lost work by the Augustan Hyginus. HC 9064; GW 13680; BMC V 318; Bod-inc H-253; IGI 4961; Klebs 527.4; Essling 287; Sander 3474; Goff H-562; ISTC ih00562000.
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