ATHENS. Deipnosophiston. Greece, ex recens Marci... Lot 11

ATHENS. Deipnosophiston. Greece, ex recens Marci Musuri (in Greek)]. Venice, Aldus Manutius and Andrea Torresano, August 1514. In-folio, soft vellum (Binding of the time). 38 pp, (1) blank f., 294 pp, 1 f. (mark). Extremely rare princeps edition in Greek of this famous treatise on gastronomy, Le Banquet des Savants, edited by Aldus Manutius and the Cretan Markos Mousouros (preface). Divided into 15 books - of which only the first three have come down to us complete (we only have an abridged version of the last two) - this work was written by Athenaeus, a rhetorician and grammarian born in Egypt in the 3rd century. The only transmitter of Greek cuisine, he cites about 700 authors' names and recalls 1500 lost works. He wrote these Deipnosophists in Greek, compiling elements from his readings: in the form of a dialogue between Athenaeus and his friend Timocrates, the work offers multiple observations on wine (I and II), fruits and shellfish (III), dishes (VI), famous cooks and gourmets such as Archestratus or Apicius (IX and X), etc. In the first book, "the ways of drinking and the different wines are described in detail: wines of Italy, of Chios and Lesbos, of Egypt, etc. The second book begins with a detailed description of the origin, nature, properties and main effects of wine" (Simon). It also gives recipes of all kinds, deals with the organization of the table and the subjects of conversation to be had, and approaches sciences, poetry, the manners, civil uses, religious customs, festivals, music, perfumes, toilets, dance, clothing... Thus, Athenaeus' treatise is the richest encyclopedia of antiquity. Precious copy from the Harry Schraemli gastronomic collection (large printed bookplate). Rebacked vellum spine, endpapers and introductory leaves renewed from the past. Inner margin of few leaves reinforced. Some foxing, more marked on two leaves in fine, some leaves creased. Vicaire, 50: "magnificently executed, says de Bure, and lovers of fine printing make enough of it." - Simon, Bach. II, 58 - Dibdin, I, 331-332 - Renouard I, 112, n° 5.