Bodoni / Esopo - Fabulae Graecae - 1800

BODONI AND CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY: AESOP IN THE SPLendid GREEK-LATIN EDITION FROM PARMA A refined edition of Aesop’s Fables issued by the renowned Royal Printing House of Parma in 1800, during the full maturity of Giambattista Bodoni’s typography. The text presents the fables in Greek and Latin on facing pages, in a setup of great neoclassical purity. The spacious margins, the page balance, and the elegance of the Greek and Roman typefaces constitute a perfect example of Bodoni’s aesthetics. The specimen preserves a beautiful contemporary calfskin binding, moiré vellum, richly decorated in gold with a red onlay to the back. A volume that unites one of the most celebrated texts of classical literature with the grand Italian typographic art between the 18th and 19th centuries. ABSTRACT Elegant Parma edition of Aesopi Phrygii Fabulae, printed in 1800 by the Regia Typografia di Parma under the direction of Giambattista Bodoni. The fables are presented in parallel Greek and Latin, with moral apparatus and introductory texts drawn from ancient rhetorical and literary tradition. The composition, extremely airy, favors characters of great clarity and wide margins, fully reflecting Bodoni’s principle of beauty achieved through proportion, simplicity, and perfection of printing. The work concludes with an alphabetical index of the fables. WHY TO BUY A particularly desirable edition for the combination of Bodoni, Aesop, Greek-Latin text, and a prestigious contemporary binding. It is not only a edition of the Fables, but a significant example of the artistic maturity of Bodoni typography, in which the design of the typefaces and the page architecture become an integral part of the work. The specimen also retains its elegant moiré calfskin binding, with a richly gold-decorated spine and a red Morocco onlay. The presence of the two languages on facing pages increases its appeal for collectors of classics, printing history, neoclassical typography, and Bodoni works. MARKET VALUE For a complete specimen in this agreeable contemporary binding, indicative market value can be placed around €800-1,500, with potential to reach higher values for copies particularly fresh, with wide margins, or of notable provenance. The Bodoni printing, the Greek-Latin text, the original binding, and good overall preservation positively influence value. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION Contemporary full calfskin binding in hazelnut-toned moiré, boards framed by a gilded rule, smooth spine entirely decorated in gold with small ornamental tools and dense geometric motif, red morocco onlay with title “AESOPI FABULAE” impressed in gold; gilt edges; blue marbled endpapers. Binding generally well preserved, with slight abrasions and signs of use. Interior fresh and well margined, with some light foxing and sporadic small stains. In old books, with a multi-century history, a few imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description. This listing contains AI Visuals. Refer to the original photographs to verify the actual conditions of the item. Images are an integral part of the description. Pp. (2); 12mo; 344; (2). FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR Fabulae Graecae. Parmae, ex Regio Typographeo, 1800. Aesopi Phrygii. CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE The edition belongs to the most prestigious phase of Giambattista Bodoni’s activity, when the Royal Printing House of Parma was already recognized across Europe as one of the foremost centers of typographic art. Bodoni pursued a concept of the book based on the geometric perfection of the typefaces, contrast between blacks and whites, the ample margins, and the near-total elimination of superfluous ornamental elements. The choice of Aesop was particularly suited to this editorial program: an ancient, universal, and relatively concise text, presented in its original Greek form next to the Latin translation. The result is a book in which typographic elegance assumes a role no less important than the literary content. BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR Aesop, traditionally placed in the 6th century B.C., is considered the most famous fabulist of ancient Greek literature. His biography is largely legendary, but tradition attributes to him a vast corpus of short moral tales in which animals, humans, and gods embody universal behaviors and weaknesses. Aesop’s fables circulated for centuries through Greek and Latin manuscripts, exerting enormous influence on European literature. Their model was later taken up, transformed, and adapted by authors such as Phaedrus, La Fontaine, and numerous modern fabulists. PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION The Parma edition of 1800 represents a typical example of classical editions produced under Bodoni’s direction, intended for an educated and international public. Particular attention is given to the Greek characters, a field in which Bodoni achieved high technical and aesthetic results. The parallel arrangement of the Greek text and the Latin version allows direct comparison of the two linguistic traditions. These editions were printed in relatively limited runs compared to the typical book production of the era and were often destined for aristocratic libraries, scholars, bibliophiles, and European collectors. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES Editions and catalogs of works printed by Giambattista Bodoni; bibliographies of the Regia Typografia di Parma; catalogs of the Greek and Latin editions of Fabulae Aesopi; studies on Italian neoclassical typography and Bodonian production; historical catalogs of classic editions printed in Parma between the 18th and 19th centuries.

Utropspris:SEK 10,013.35

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