Epistolae Familiares.

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Creator

Cicero, Marcus Tullius.

Title

Epistolae Familiares.

Coverage

Venice

Publisher

Aldus Manutius

Date

April 1502.

Description

Although beautiful, printing on vellum is both costly and difficult, and the existence of vellum copies of Aldine imprints proves that there was demand for special copies in the early years of the Press. The opening page of this edition of Cicero’s Familiar Letters is illuminated by the Master of the Pico Pliny for the Frescobaldi family of Florence, whose arms are seen at the foot of the page. This is one of three known examples of this publication on vellum, and the only one in private hands.

Source

From the collection of T. Kimball Brooker.