[A Leaf from Las Quatorze Decadas]

[Saragossa, Spain]: [Georgius Coci], 1520. Near Fine. A scarce single leaf from "Las Quatorze Decadas de Tito Livio", the first complete Spanish translation of the Decades. This volume was printed by George Coci at Saragossa in 1520. Titus Livius (59 BC – AD 17), known in English as Livy, was a Roman historian. He wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people, titled Ab Urbe Condita, ''From the Founding of the City'', covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditional founding in 753 BC through the reign of Augustus in Livy's own lifetime. This leaf is from the chapter titled "De la Fundacion de Roma." The remarkable (truncated) woodcut illustrates the Roman general's triumphal return after a victory over the Samnites. The woodcut first appeared in the German Livy, printed by Johann Schoeffer in Mainz in 1505. According to the art historian, Richard Muther, the woodcuts may have been designed by Sebastian Brant, best known for his work Ship of Fools. This is handsome leaf in very well preserved condition. Ragged left edge where removed from the bound volume. Light soiling along the margins. Measures 7.5 x 10.5 inches. PRINTS/121624. (Inventory #: 37708)