Colonna’s Hypnerotomachia Poliphili Leads Italian Incunabula Auction
Catawiki
A page from Hypnerotomachia Poliphili
Catawiki's new Italian Incunabula and Rare Books auction features more than 40 beautiful books, dating between 1474 and 1790.
The auction is characterized by pre-1500 important printing, illustrated works and first editions. From literature to science, from early theology to philosophy, the auction might be seen as a compendium of Italian culture during the Renaissance and the evolution of its heritage.
The leading lot, the Editio Princeps of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, printed in 1499 by the Aldine press. The well-known Francesco Colonna’s masterpiece - printed by Aldus the Elder - is widely considered the most beautiful book of the Renaissance. Even though the copy up for auction is slightly incomplete, it is in overall very good condition.
The volume is illustrated by 168 woodcuts of which 10 are full-page (only 4 are missing, including a diagram) attributed to the Paduan miniaturist Benedetto Bordone. The famous wood of Priapus is not censored.
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Catawiki
A page from the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili
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Catawiki
A page from Hypnerotomachia Poliphili
Alongside this sought-after Aldine edition, the auction presents four other incunabula plus dozens of scarce XVI century books.
Francesco Magnani, category lead Books, Manuscripts & Cartography at Catawiki, said: “This is a wonderful work that every lover of Renaissance books would be proud to own. With its excellent provenance and the guarantee of the seller that full export licences will be provided, this is a marvellous opportunity to obtain a scarce copy of the most important illustrated Renaissance book.”
