Bibliographical notes on histories of inventions and books of secrets.

  • John Ferguson
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Bibliographical notes on histories of inventions and books of secrets. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    24/428 (page 8)
    edition of 1613, he says, is so rare that the only copy he could meet with was in the ducal library at Wolfenbuttel. Lessing {Kollektatieai, Berlin, 1790, Vol. II., p. 142) mentions Matthseus, and expresses his indebtedness to him for notes of certain inventions and discoveries. What he says about the author himself is taken from Justinianus’ preface and from Jbcher, and he seems to consider him the earliest modern author on the subject. Supposing the work had been printed in 1520, involving its being written say even twenty years earlier, it would still be subsequent to Polydore Vergil, though anterior to Sardi, who was only born in 1520. It is not easy, therefore, to explain how Lessing has placed him prior to Polydore Vergil. 7. The history of Alessandro Sardi, which was intended as a supplement to that of Vergil, is usually printed along with the De Inventoribus Rerum of the latter. It will be found, for example, in the editions of 1600, 1604,1 1606, 1613, 1626, 1726. In my first account of it (Part II., p. 242) I had only these 1604 and 1626 conjoined editions before me, and Chappuys’ French translation of 1584, an edition to which I have observed no allusion anywhere, but, as I then stated, the first edition was printed at Mayence in 1577 as a supplement to a work De ritibus gentium. This work first appeared under the following title: Akxandii Sardi | Ferrariensis, | Dd Moribvs Ac Ritibvs [ Gentivni j Libii III. | Nunc ptimum in lucem editi. | Quod opus quanta rerutn uarietate refertum,| quamq; omnibus ingeniis utile ac neceffatium | fit, fequens elenchus, & auctoris ptooemium | indicabunt. | Cum I’riuilegiis. [Device.] Venetiis, | E.x ofificina Stellie lordani Zilleli. | 1557. Small 8vo. *, A Q in eights, R in six ; or pp. [16] 265. [i with register and colophon, I blank, I with device.] The dedication is to Pope lulius Cananus, not dated. It is a very prettily printed book. The second edition is entitled: De Moribus ac Kitihus Gentium Lib. III. Mogunliie, Per Franciscum Behem, Anno MDLXXVri. It is in small 8°, *, A to N in eights, or pp. [16] 207 [i blank], and is printed in italics. 1 The edition of Sardus, 1604, mentioned in the British Museum Catalogue under Plinius [721. b. 23(2)], is merely the appendix to Stoer’s edition of Polydore Vergil of that date, bound separately.