#bernardinum venetum de vitalibus

Marbled Monday

This Marbled Monday we’re sharing an oldie but a goodie— Romanae Historiae Compendium ab Interitu Gordiani Iunioris Vsque ad Iustinium by Julius Pomponius Laetus (1428-1498), humanist professor and founder of the Accademia Romana. Also known as Giulio Pomponio Leto, members of his academy took Greek or Latin names, so his original Italian name is unknown. The book is a text on Roman history from the death of Gordian the Younger to Justinus and was published in 1500 in Venice by Bernardinum Venetum de Vitalibus. The binding, however, is probably late nineteenth or early twentieth century.

The marbling on this half binding is a Serpentine pattern and is quite striking, with green, yellow, and a reddish-toned brown swirled together in sort of triangular or chevron-like pattern. I found this book while browsing the stacks for good marbling, and boy did I find some!

- Alice, Special Collections Department Manager