Opera.

Homer.

Opera.

Venice: Aldus Manutius,

1504.

Homer was one of very few Greek authors who was printed before Aldus established his press, although this represents the second printed edition of Homer following the Florentine editio princeps of 1488, and the first appearance of the father of Western literature in octavo format. Both volumes are printed on vellum. The Odyssey (shown closed) is bound alla greca, and the Iliad (shown open) is a later imitation by the binder Robert Rivière (1808–1882). Previously owned by Estelle Doheny (1875–1958).

From the collection of T. Kimball Brooker.