THE CONSOLATION OF PHILOSOPHY

Boethius, Severinus. De philosophiae consolatione. Eiusdem De scholastica disciplina qui alii quoque autori a non nullis adscribitur. Florence: Giunti, 1513 [at colophon:] Florentiae: sumptibus Philippi de Giunta Florentini, 1513.

Very refined woodcut headletters, very similar to those employed by Aldus in printing his Greek books.

8vo (158x95 mm), near contemporary limp vellum, ff. [80].

Scarce early Giuntine edition of Boethius' masterpiece, a philosophical treatise on fortune, death and divine, one of the most popular and influential works of the Middle Ages.

This work represented an imaginary dialogue between himself and philosophy, with philosophy personified as a woman. The book argues that despite the apparent inequality of the world, there is, in Platonic fashion, a higher power and everything else is secondary to it.

Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, commonly called Boethius (c. 480-524 or 525 AD), was a philosopher of the early 6th century. He was born in Rome to the ancient and prominent Anicia family. Boethius entered public life at a young age and was already a senator by the age of 25. When Boethius composed his «Consolation of Philosophy» when was imprisoned and eventually executed by King Theodoric the Great, who suspected him of conspiring with the Eastern Roman Empire.

Several manuscripts survived and these were widely edited, translated and printed throughout the late 15th century and later in Europe.

The work is followed by De scholastica disciplina a work wrongly attributed to Boethius.

References: Cnce, 6544. OCLC, 4979320. Decia, I Giunti tipografi di Firenze, 43: «Il De scholastica disciplina è un'opera apocrifa falsamente attribuita a Boezio». Renouard, XXXVII, 43. Adams B-2287.

Several repaired wormholes.