JUSTIN, FLORUS, SEXTUS RUFUS - Iustini Historiae, Flori Epitome, Sexti Rufi Breviarium. - 1524

JUSTIN, FLORUS, SEXTUS RUFUS
Rare Parisian impression by Josse Bade (Badius Ascensius), 1524
Title adorned with the famous mark of the “Prelum Ascensianum” (Ascensian press)

Iustini Quatuor & Quadraginta Librorum Historiarum Trogi Pompeii in totidem libellos contractio. Lucii Flori Historiae Romanae in quatuor volumina in formam Epitomes redactio. Sexti ad hoc Ruffi viri consularis de Historia Romana ad Valentinianum Augustum opusculum appositissimum. Cum omnium indice literario.

Paris, Josse Bade (Jodocus Badius Ascensius), 1524. Text entirely in Latin.

A STRIKING TITLE
The title page is in itself a work of art. The printed text is embedded in a broad architectural wood-engraved frame: putti and sea monsters in the upper frieze, candlestick-columns, antique-profile medallions, grotesque figures at the bases of the columns. In the center stands the famous mark of Josse Bade: the interior of a printing workshop in full activity, with the hand press, the workers, and the inscription “Prelum Ascensianum.” It is one of the most famous representations of Renaissance printing. Some traces of old color are visible in the lower frieze.

The title announces the print date “ad Natale dniu 1524,” i.e., at Christmas 1524.

THE THREE TEXTS
Justin (Marcus Junianus Justinus): abridgment of the “Histories Philippicae” of Trogus Pompeius, universal history in 44 books spanning the eastern empires to Augustus, with Alexander’s Macedonia at the heart of the narrative. The original work of Trogus Pompeius is lost; we know it only through Justin.

Florus (Lucius Annaeus Florus): his “Epitome” summarizes the history of Rome in four books, from origins to Augustus. It is preceded by a letter from the Bologna humanist Philippe Béroalde.

Sextus Rufus: his “Breviarium” is an abridgment of Roman history dedicated to Emperor Valentinian.

The whole is completed by a general alphabetical index (“omnium indice literario”) arranged in three columns. A letter from Bade to Ludovicus Allegrinus, dated Christmas 1524, is printed on the verso of the title.

THE PUBLISHER
Josse Bade (1462-1535), born near Brussels, founded his printing house in Paris in 1503. It took the name “Prelum Ascensianum” and produced 775 editions through 1535, making it one of the most active workshops of the first half of the 16th century. A humanist, grammarian, commentator, and printer, Bade is a major figure of Parisian humanism. His three daughters married three great names in French printing: Michel de Vascosan, Robert Estienne, and Jean de Roigny.

This edition is described in the standard bibliography: Ph. Renouard, “Bibliographie des impressions et des œuvres de Josse Badius Ascensius,” vol. II, pp. 533-534.

COLLATION AND DIMENSIONS
Dimensions: 26.5 cm high x 20 cm wide x 1.7 cm thick.
Edition collation: 6 unnumbered preliminary leaves, then 84 numbered leaves (signatures A6, a-i8, k-l6), i.e., 90 leaves (about 180 pages).
Justin begins on leaf 1, Florus opens on the verso of leaf 55, Sextus Rufus begins on leaf 80 verso.
Colophon: finished printing on the ides of December 1524 by Jo. Badius Ascensius.
Printing in roman type, running title, decorated initials.

BINDING
Old calf binding, spine with raised bands decorated with gilt tooling (floral motifs in the compartments, gilt rules), gilt title on the spine (“IUSTIN…”). Back band more or less marbled paper (green, red, ochre), red edges. A binding in use showing signs of time (caps and corners worn, covers marked, corners dulled), solid and very decorative.

PROVENANCE AND PARTICULARS
The title bears several old manuscript inscriptions (ownership marks and ink signatures). A flyleaf also contains a hand-copied Latin verse piece, in an old cursive hand, in brown ink (about thirty lines in couplets, with some erasures). This manuscript addition testifies to the book’s life among its former readers and adds extra interest.

CONDITION
Sturdy, well-preserved paper for the period, with the slight browning and usual foxing of books from this century. The title well printed, readable and fresh. Binding as described above. Detailed photographs supplied.

A foundational text of Renaissance historical culture, one of the finest frontispieces engraved in Parisian typography, a major and sought-after printer, an early gilded binding, and marks of early readers. Few 16th-century books present themselves as well.

Carefully packed for shipment."