1559 Aulus Gellius Latin, Manuscript Vellum Binding, Gauffered Edges For Sale

Aulus Gellius, Auli Gellii luculentissimi scriptoris Noctes Atticae. Lugduni, apud haeredes Seb. Gryphii, 1559.
Attractive mid-16th-century Lyon printing of Aulus Gellius’s Noctes Atticae, or Attic Nights, a major miscellany of Roman learning, grammar, literature, antiquarian knowledge, and philosophical anecdote. Printed by the heirs of Sebastian Gryphius, with the Gryphius printer’s device on the title page.
Small 16mo volume, approximately 5 x 3.5 x 1.5 inches. Bound in vellum made from an earlier manuscript leaf, with bold black and red lettering and ruled decoration visible across the covers and spine. The text is in Latin, with woodcut initials and an index at the rear.The text block edges are decoratively tooled / gauffered, with an ornamental pattern visible along the fore edge and tail edge.
Early manuscript ownership and reading notes are present on the title page and rear pastedown / endpaper.
The title page bears several early ownership and reader’s inscriptions, including a 17th-century manuscript date “1666.” One note appears to be a learned Latin annotation, “Floruit sub Traiano” — “he flourished under Trajan” — likely referring to the ancient author. A larger contemporary ownership inscription below is only partially legible, with a possible name beginning “Robertus/Robt…,” but it remains uncertain.Additional early manuscript note to the rear pastedown apparently beginning with the Latinized name “Guilielmus” — William — and possibly referring to a student or school context. The note includes what appears to be an early price notation, though the surname and exact amounts are difficult to decipher.
Condition: Worn but appealing antiquarian condition. Manuscript-vellum binding rubbed, soiled, and worn at corners and edges, with small losses and curling to the vellum. Title page has old ink notes, soiling, and a small chip / loss at the upper margin. Text pages show age-toning, handling wear, some staining and marginal wear.All books we sell are original copies, we do not sell reproductions.Free shipping, free no questions asked 30 day returns (within USA), Global Shipping Program to other countries.