| Variant title |
Aldi Pii Manvtii Institvtionvm grammaticarvm libri qvatvor |
| Variant title |
De octo orationis partium constructione libellus |
| Variant title |
Institutionum grammaticarum libri quatuor |
| Abstract |
Written during the 1480s when Aldus the Elder was teaching at Carpi, the Institutiones grammaticae was revised and first published in 1493 by Andrea Torresani. After establishing his own printing press, Aldus published the Latin grammar three more times before he died. However, none of these four editions enjoyed very great success, and the "Doctrinale puerorum" by Alexander de Villa Dei continued to be the grammar of choice. In the epilogue to the 1493 edition, Aldus notes that he wrote his own grammar because he was so dissatisfied with the available textbooks which he found unsuitable for teaching young children quickly and effectively. The 1523 edition is notable for its use of red ink. As in the previous edition of 1514, the Aldine device on the title-page, and the headings and initials in the first gathering a⁸ are printed in red, typographic features Aldus had introduced earlier in a 1497 Book of Hours. These typographic features were usually reserved for liturgical texts, rare in Aldine printing. In addition to the Institutionum grammaticarum, only seven other Aldine press imprints contain "red printing:" Books of Hours of 1497, 1505 and 1521, the 1516 Gregory Nazanzenus, 1516 Strabus, 1516 Bible and 1516 Rhodiginus. |
| Local note | Joyner Rare copy is without the 4 unnumbered leaves of Hebrew at the end of the numbered leaves; additionally, this volume has been censored with leaves 189-204 containing "De octo orationis partium constructione libellus" by Erasmus of Rotterdam absent and the remainder of title "Erasmi Roterodami opusculum de octo orationis partium constructione" rubbed out of the title page. There is a tag with the number 239 affixed to the top of page 2 of the cover. |
| General note | Imprint from colophon. |
| General note | "Quae quoq[ue] libro continentur hanc uoluenti chartam statim se offerunt" --Title page. |
| General note | Signatures: a-y⁸z⁴2a-2d⁸chi⁴. |
| General note | Woodcuts: Aldine anchor-and-dolphin device on title-page printed in red; repeated in black on verso of leaves z4 (leaf 172) and dd8 (leaf 204). |
| General note | First eight leaves (a⁸) printed in red and black; text printed in roman type; spaces left for capitals, with guide letters. |
| General note | Leaves 189-204: De octo orationis partium constructione libellus, tum elegans in primis, tum dilucida breuitate copiosissimus, Erasmo Roterodamo authore. |
| General note | Four last leaves (chi⁴) contain a Hebrew alphabet and notes on common combinations of Hebrew letters. |
| References |
Renouard, A.A. Annales de l'imprimerie des Alde, page 98, no. 7 |
| References |
Adams, H.M. Catalogue of books printed on the continent of Europe, 1501-1600, in Cambridge libraries, M-429 |
| References |
Short-title catalogue of books printed in Italy and of Italian books printed in other countries from 1465 to 1600 now in the British Museum, page 411 |
| References |
Aldine press books at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, the University of Texas at Austin, no. 205 |
| References |
UCLA Library. Aldine Press, no. 224 |
| Acquisitions source |
Joyner Rare copy Purchased from Patrick Olson, 12/12/2024 |
| Genre/form | Early works. |
