C. Valerius Catullus Veronensis;

Patavii: Josephus Cominus, 1737. The Best Edition of Catullus Yet Published"
The Rare Veronese Gold Medal Winner

CATULLUS, C. Valerius. VOLPI, Gian Antonio (editor). C. Valerius Catullus Veronensis et in eum Jo: Antonii Vulpii Eloquentiae Professoris in Gymnasio Patavino Novus Commentarius Locupletissimus. Patavii [Padua]: Josephus Cominus, 1737.

First separate Volpi edition, originally issued collectively with Albius Tibullus E.R., and Sex. Aurelius Propertius (1710), here with material not found in that earlier edition. Quarto (10 5/8 x 7 1/2 in; 270 x 189 mm). xl, 608, [1, errata], [1, colophon], [2, blank] pp. Title page engraving. Head- tailpieces. Historiated initial. Includes Vopi's essay, De Metris Catulli, commentary, bibliographical references and index.

Contemporary full vellum. Calf spine label. All edges dappled in red and yellow. Stab-stitch holes manifest. Text block crisp and clean. A remarkable copy of a scarce book, here in its fine original eighteenth century vellum binding with decorated edges.

"'This is in every respect,' says Dr. Harwood, 'the best edition of Catullus yet published; the text is exhibited in a more correct manner, and the notes of Vulpius are very valuable.' According to Ernesti and Harles, the notes of Vulpius are not so much in emendation of the text, as in illustration of the poet by selecting parallel passages from ancient and modern writers" (Dibdin I, p. 245).

"Gian Antonio Volpi, born at Padua in 1686, studied in his native town and became a good Latin and Greek scholar. In 1717 he and his brother Gaetano Volpi established a printing press in their house for the purpose of bring out correct editions of classic authors, and they engaged for their assistant the printer Giuseppi Comino. This press - known by the name Volpi-Cominiana, produced among others a valuable edition of Catullus with copious notes. The edition was much commended by scholars, and the city of Verona struck a gold medal, which was presented to Volpi" (Long, George. The Supplement to the Penny Cyclopedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, p. 699.

For many years professor of philosophy and rhetoric at University of Padua, Volpi went blind in his old age and died in 1766.