1563 MYTHOLOGY Tetrasticha in Ovidii Metam 132 WOODCUTS Dragons WITCHES Serpents
Posthius (Johannes).
Tetrasticha in Ovidii Metam. Lib. XV. Quibus accesserunt Vergilii Solis figurae elegantiss & iam primum in lucem editae.
[Frankfurt: Georg Corvinus, Sigismund Feyerabend, and the heirs of Wigand Gall]
1563
Ovid's Metamorphoses
Beautifully illustrated to every page with 132 full page woodcuts within decorative borders by Virgil Solis
The Illustrations by Solis: Beautiful Woodcuts showing the creation of the world in a mythological style, for example page 8 illustrates an early depiction of a Werewolf, Centaurs, Dragons, Gods, Witches, Sea Monsters, Hydras, Half woman, half serpent, winged horses etc.
Retaining 7 (of 8) preliminary leaves and 66 (of 89) leaves: [1-18, 21-80, 83-90, 95-130, 135-144pp], title in red and black within woodcut border, 132 (of 178) woodcuts with borders by Virgil Solis, text in Latin and German, oblong small 4to (15cm x 16.9cm)
Scarce 2nd Print of the first edition. corresponding verse by Ovid is typographically set above each woodcut and the German version by Johann Posthius (1537-1597) below the illustrations. Only two registered in holding library's [one being the British Library]
Collation: a-b4 (lacks a4), A-S4 (lacks C2, L1, M2-3, R2-3 and all after S4: pp. 145-178 and 3 leaves of end matter).
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Virgil Solis or Virgilius Solis (1514 – 1 August 1562), a member of a prolific family of artists, was a German draughtsman and printmaker in engraving, etching and woodcut who worked in his native city of Nuremberg. His prints were sold separately (mainly the etchings and engravings) or formed the illustrations of books (normally the woodcuts); many prints signed by him are probably by assistants. After his death his widow married his assistant and continued the workshop into the early seventeenth century.
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The Metamorphoses (Latin: Metamorphōsēs, from Ancient Greek: μεταμορφώσεις: "Transformations") is an 8 AD Latin narrative poem by the Roman poet Ovid, considered his magnum opus. Comprising 11,995 lines, 15 books and over 250 myths, the poem chronicles the history of the world from its creation to the deification of Julius Caesar within a loose mythico-historical framework
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Condition: Please see photographs as part of the condition report: Lacks a4, C2, L1, M2-3, R2-3, and pp 145-178 and [3]pp to the end. Retaining 132 of the 178 Full page woodcuts. title heavily soiled with small loss to foremargin, relined, occasional old damp staining and soiling throughout, pages dust marked, a few closed tears to upper margins of first few leaves, 19th-century half calf over marbled boards, ink inscription to the front board. Extremities rubbed. Front boards hinge cracked but still attached. Ink inscription's to the front pastedown. Text block firm. Occasional colouring to the woodcuts.
GBP 2,450.00
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