Grammatica introductiva [Graece]; De mensibus [Graece] [and] APOLLONIUS DYSCOLUS - De constructione [Graece] [and] HERODIANUS grammaticus, Pseudo - De numeris [Graece].

Folio: [92 (of 198)] ff., ca. 31 ll. (quires a bβ–lλ a8 b10 missing, some spotting, last ff. with light dampstaining).

Later half brown leather, covers with marbled paper, flat spine with a label (worn).

First edition with the rare variant in the layout of the f. [107r]: the first line of the title is longer and the larger part of the printing area of the text is smaller (as in a copy held by ÖnB, Vienna). The "Grammatica" by Gaza is missing, but this copy contains "De Constructione" by Apollonius Dyscolus and "De Numeris" attributed to his son Herodianus; these men were considered two of the greatest Greek grammarians of Greco-Roman antiquity. Printed with the elegant Greek typefaces cut by the well-known punchcutter Francesco Griffo (1450-1518), who also delivered to Manutius his famous Bembo, Hebrew types and the first italic type ever used. Ill. with woodcut borders and initials. This edition, considered by Erasmus (who translated into Latin) as one of the best Greek grammars, was part of Manutius' ambitious programme of promoting classical education.
Ref. ISTC ig00110000. - GW 10562. - BMC V:553. - BSB-Ink G-47 - CIBN G-57. - Polain 1555.
Prov. Old ms. ownership entries in Latin and Greek.