BOETHIUS, ANICIUS MANLIUS TORQUATUS SEVERINUS (d. 524).

[Works]. Hec sunt opera Boetii, que in hoc volumine cõtinentur. In porphirii Isagogen a Victorino translatam editio prima. In Porphirii Isagogen a Boetio ipso trãslatã editio scda. In cathogorias [sic] Aristotelis. editio una. In librum Aristotelis. de interpretatione editio prima. In eundem librum de interpretatione editio secunda: De divisionibus liber unus. De definitionibus liber unus.

      Ad cathegoricos syllogismos introductio. Commentariorum in Topica Ciceronis libri sex. De differentiis Topicis libri quattuor. De syllogismo cathegorico libri duo. De syllogismo hipothetico libri duo. De trinitate libri duo. De hebdomadibus liber unus: De unitate [et] uno liber unus. Contra euthichen. [et] Nestorium de duabus naturis: [et] una persona christi liber unus. [Venetiis, Ioannem [et] Gregorium de gregoriis, 8. Iulii, 1499.] Part 1 of 3. Folio; 206 leaves, numbered [1]-199, 199-201. Sig.: [2], a8, 1 (register), b8-z8, r8, c10, [1]. Gothic and some Greek type; 2 columns, 65 lines. Numerous ornamental initials, some historiated, in white on black; woodcut diagrams throughout text; register for part one; catchwords on versos; signature marks. Without colophon, as is usually noted for part one of this edition. Errors in foliation: leaves 19, 52, 113-116, 122, 159, 181, 184, 187, 195, 200-202 are misnumbered 18, 51, 114-117, 22, 179, 811, 185, 188, 145, 199-201 respectively; part of number on f. 89 lost in trimming. Early manuscript note in lower margin of last printed leaf. Contemporary full vellum, somewhat soiled but intact, handwritten "Boetii Opera" on spine; edges dusty; browning on few leaves; worming throughout, mainly, but not solely, in margins; contemporary notes on front endpaper and first blank leaf. This is the complete first part of a three-part set, each part of which was issued separately. A good copy of a very scarce work. Of other copies, including those described in Hain 3352, Pellechet 2491, Polain B721, Walsh 2034, only BM V, 21143 mentions the typographical error in the title ("cathogorias"); in lists of errors in foliation, f. 52 is not noted elsewhere; and the register for part one, present here, appears in part two of some copies. This is the second edition of Boethius' works printed by the de Gregoriis brothers; a previous edition in two parts was published in 1492. Boethius was one of very few Romans who had read the Greek scholars, and he passed on his knowledge to his fellow citizens by providing a basic Latin vocabulary of philosophical discourse and by translating the works of Aristotle. This first part of the collection of Boethius' Works includes his translation of Porphyry's introduction to Aristotle's works of logic, the writings themselves, and Boethius' commentary. Also included in this volume are his commentary on Cicero's Topics, as well as five tracts by Boethius on theological subjects, such as the Holy Trinity. Boethius' works and translations became essential reading for classical scholarship right through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and had a major influence on writers such as Chaucer and Dante.