Lot 157: POGGIUS FLORENTINUS (1380-1459;

Poggio BRACCIOLINI). Facetiae. [Nuremberg:] Friedrich Creussner, 1475. Collation: [1 6 2-7 10. 8 8 8 ] (1/1 blank, 1/2r table, 2/1r text, 8/8v colophon). 67 (of 68, without first blank) leaves; retaining 2 blank sheets as outer bifolia of first quire. 31 lines. Type: 1:110G. 3- to 6-line initials in red, a few flourished, red capital strokes. (Light stains on 1/2.) HR 13188; BSB-Ink. B-780; Madsen 3341; Goff P-858. [ Bound third with :] RAMPIGOLLIS, Antonius (prologue only) and BINDO DE SENIS. Aurea Biblia, sive Repertorium aureum Bibliorum. [Cologne: Conrad Winters, de Homborch, c.1481]. Collation: [1-10 8 11-12 6 13 8 ] (1/1 blank, 1/2r prologue, table, 1/3r text, 13/8v blank). 100 leaves. 41 lines, double column. Type: 3:168G, 1:99G. 2- to 5-line initials and paragraph marks alternating in red and blue, red capital strokes in headings. Bearer type on 13/8r. HC *13677; BMC I, 251 (IB. 4180-1); BSB-Ink. B-524; VK 1000; Goff R-17. [ Bound with :] HIERONYMUS. Vitae sanctorum patrum, sive Vitas patrum. [Cologne: Conrad Winters, de Homborch, c.1481-2]. Collation: [1-4 10 5-6 8 ; 7-10 8 11-12 6 13-18 8 19 10 ]. 158 leaves. Type: 3:168G, 1:99G. One- to 5-line initials alternating in red and blue, opening initial with contrasting decoration, paragraph marks in red or blue, red capital strokes in headings. (Light dampstain at some lower corners.) C 1959; BMC I, 251 (IB. 4184); VK 1254; Goff H-203. 3 works in one volume, chancery 2o (278 x 203mm). Contemporary oak boards backed in blindstamped calf affixed at leather edges with 3 brass nails, titles written on upper cover in a contemporary hand, 2 brass fore-edge catchplates without clasps, leather index tabs (rebacked preserving much of the original backstrip, lower board renewed). The Facetiae is a collection of ribald stories and anecdotes which enjoyed great popularity among Renaissance humanists for its wit as well as its subject matter. Its salacious nature is made explicit by the contemporary drawing of a phallus next to a chapter on the difficulties faced by inexperienced adolescents on their wedding night. All early printed editions of the Facetiae are rare; only two other copies of any 15th-century edition has been sold at auction in over 25 years. The present copy may owe its survival to the discretion of its early owner, who had it bound behind two works of theology.