This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/26/2022
HYGINUS, Caius Julius (Pseudo?, fl. 2nd century CE). Poeticon astronomicon. Edited by Jacobus Sentinus and Johannes Lucilius Santritter. Venice: Thomas de Blavis de Alexandria, 7 June 1488. Chancery 4to (205 x 140 mm). 56 leaves. Woodcut illustrations and diagrams with hand–coloring (several neat notations in red near woodcuts and margins in a contemporary hand). Modern vellum, leather lettering–piece gilt, ties (few leaves with tiny stains, mostly at margins, else fine). AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO THE ANCIENT SCIENCE OF THE SKY. This edition is based on that of Ratdolt, copying its woodcuts—which were the first printed illustrations of the ancient figurative heavens and much copied by contemporary publishers, including Aldus. The Poeticon astronomicon explains the basics of astronomy and the zodiac in verse, mingling science with myth and iconography. Although attributed to Caius Julius Hyginus, superintendent of the Palatine library, this work was likely composed in the second century CE, perhaps as an abridgement or epitome of a lost work by the Augustan Hyginus. HC 9064; GW 13680; BMC V 318; Bod-inc H-253; IGI 4961; Klebs 527.4; Essling 287; Sander 3474; Goff H-562; ISTC ih00562000.