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.