Aldine. APULEIO. Metamorphoseos ... Ad Platonis... Lot n° 18

APULEIO. Metamorphoseos, siue lusus asini libri XI...Venice, Aldo and Andrea Torresani,1521 Bound with: Alcinoi philosophi ad Platonis dogmata introductio... Venice, Aldo and Andrea Torresani,1521 2 parts in 1 volume in 8vo. 155x90 mm. Coeval vellum binding, brown leather gusset with author and title in gold on smooth spine. Endpapers 266 [i.e. 264], [28]. Typographic mark to title page and end of volume, spaces for initials with guide lettering, second part printed in Greek. Defects and restoration to binding, reinforcement to title paper, sporadic foxing. Ex libris pasted to front counterplate. First Aldine edition of Apuleius' works, edited by Francesco Torresano whose name appears in the preface. It includes his most famous work, "Asinus aureus," as well as several treatises on Platonic philosophy: "Floridorum libri IV ", a collection of passages from his speeches; "De Deo Socratis liber I," a treatise expounding the Platonic doctrine of beneficial demons as intermediaries between men and gods; "Vita, instituta, dogmata Platonis," the famous treatise on Plato; and finally "Apologia" in two books, a valuable source of biographical information. At the end is added the treatise of Alcinous, an admirer of Lucretius, on Platonic philosophy, "Ad Platonis dogmata introductio," imprinted in Greek because, as the General Frontispiece warns, the existing Latin translation, by Bishop "Tropiensis," was barbaric. Adams A1362; Renouard 91/8; Ahmanson-Murphy 202; STC. 35; UCLA 177; Cataldi Palau 67. 2 parts in 1 volume in 8vo. 155x90 mm. Contemporary vellum, brown leather label with author and title in gold on the flat spine. Leaves 266 [i.e. 264], [28]. Printer's device on the title page and at the end of the volume, spaces for initials with guide letters, second part printed in Greek. Defects and restorations to the binding, title-page reinforced, occasional foxing. Ex libris glued to the insidecover. First Aldine edition of the works of Apuleius, edited by Francesco Torresano whose name appears in the preface. It includes his most famous work, "Asinus aureus," as well as several treatises on Platonic philosophy: "Floridorum libri IV," a collection of passages from his speeches; "De Deo Socratis liber I," a treatise which expounds the Platonic doctrine of beneficial intermediary demons between men and gods; "Vita, instituta, dogmata Platonis," the famous treatise on Plato; finally, "Apologia" in two books, a precious source of biographical information.At the end is added the treatise by Alcinous, admirer of Lucretius, on Platonic philosophy, "Ad Platonis dogmata introductio," printed in Greek because, as can be seen in the general Title-page, the existing Latin translation, by the bishop "Tropiensis," was barbaric.