EUCLID

Geometricorum elementorum libri XV...

      Paris, Henri Estienne, 7 January 1516 Folio (299 x 201 mm), ff. 261 [of 262, without final blank], with numerous woodcut diagrams printed in the margins and many fine criblé initials; margins of title a little dust-soiled, a very clean, attractive, large copy in contemporary blind-panelled French calf, gilt fleurons on spine, the binding carefully restored, later front endpaper. £7000

'First edition of Euclid printed outside of Italy, in the Latin translation, made directly from the Greek, by Bartolommeo Zamberti, newly revised by Lefèvre d'Etaples, who has added the "commentaries" of Campano, Theon, and Hypsicles.
'The volume is a typographical masterpiece, following the design of the Italian edition of Euclid in confining the text to a column on the left of the page, thus allowing an ample space on the right-hand side for the appropriate diagrams. The lavish use of beautiful criblé initials in various sizes adds to the striking effect of the page' (Schreiber).
This edition is the first to reproduce the competing editions of Euclid's two early editors, Campanus of Novara (who had produced the 1482 edition from the Arabic) and Bartolomeo Zamberti (who produced the first edition from the Greek in 1505. 'Each theorem and proof first occurs ex Campano and is immediately followed by its mate and proof Theon ex Zamberto. The additiones due to Campanus appear in place but are appropriately set off and indicated as such' (DSB).

Provenance: purchase inscription 'emptus 30 -?' in red; later inscription 'E Ratier, prêtre, ch. ? rue Perigord, Toulouse' both on title

Adams E982; Schreiber 27; Renouard 18 n. 8; Thomas-Stanford 6