450. (Bonatti) Bonatus, Guido: Decem tractatus Astronomicus

(Auguste Vindelicorum, 26 March 1491. Erhard Ratdolt.) (844)p. Two leaves (M5-6) replaced by copies. With numerous hand-coloured intertextual woodcuts and a full-page printer’s device (in red and green) on final leaf.
The author was an Italian astronomer and astrologer. As he was a supporter of the emperor (Ghibelline), his activities were judged controversially. Dante, who was a supporter of the pope (Guelph), for example, placed him in hell in his Divine Comedy as punishment for his astrological activities. This work was written at the end of the 13th century. This is the first printed edition, published by Johann Engel (Johannes Angelus). It was published a second time in 1506. The volume, which is already spectacular and decorated with charming woodcuts, is made extraordinary by its contemporary coloring, numerous painted initials, and the impressive, full-page printer's mark highlighted in red and green on the last page. A piece in such good condition is a rarity even on the international market. The bibliography lists only one Hungarian copy, which is kept in the National Library.
Blind-stamped 16th-century leather over wooden boards, with two clasps.
istc ib00845000.; GW 4643.; CIH 729.
 
Starting price: 3 600 000,-