Cicero (Marcus Tullius) (106-43 B.C.)

De finibus bonorum et malorum.

Written in a fine humanistic hand. 34 lines to a page. Illuminated letter N in gold and colours, with ornamental surround to text in gold, and partly coloured, below arms of the Strozzi Library in green and gold. The decorations are in Florentine style. Other illuminated initials on fol. 16v (gold only, uncoloured), 39v in gold and colours, 54 and 69 in gold and colours. Headings in red.

Fol. 1v 'MAGISTRI TYGRINI Mcccclxxxvii', in very faded ink. 2 Dicteria septem sapientium. Ten lines of Greek verse, with Latin translation of the words written above. 2v 'Infracscriptum jusjurandum scriptum est in lapide vetustissimo in creta ad opidum [sic] scithie', followed by 8 lines of the Greek text. Below 'Transcriptum per me hieronymum Tygrinum. Ex quodem codice Nicolai Feretti preceptoris anno 1497 octubris lucce. 3 (red) Marci Tullii Cicernis de finibus bonorum et malorum //Liber primus incipit feliciter. //NOS ERAM NESCIVS BRVTE/ quumque summis ingeniis... 87 ...ad pomponium porreximus /omnes. //(red) M. Tullii Ciceronis de finibus bonorum et malorum liber/quintus et ultimus explicit feliciter. 89 Pen-drawn panel in the style of the decorations of the MS., with central inscription 'GRATO BEA[TAE]M[ARIAE]V[I]R[GINI]MVNERE'. 89v 'Est mei hieronymi tygrini tiberiachiensis', and the date 1500.

Possibly produced in Florence.

c.1475

1 volume 90 ll. folio. 27 x 18 1/2 cm. On vellum, modern vellum binding, with leather ties. The leather ties are too fragile to be tied and must be left undone.

Purchased at the Hoepli Sale, Milan 3/9/1928, Lot 189.

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).