GAZA (Theodore). [...] Introductivæ grammatices libri quatuor. Ejusdem de mensibus opusculum sanequampulchrum. Apollonii grammatici de constructione libri quatuor. Herodianus de numeris. Venice, Aldo Manuzio, 8 January 1495. In-folio, fawn morocco, lozenge-rectangle decoration composed of gilt and blind roulettes and fillets, Aldine mark with anchor and dolphin gilt in the centre, ornate spine, fillets on the edges, triple fillet inside, gilt edges (19th century English binding). First edition of one of the most important treatises on Greek grammar of the Renaissance. This is the second dated book to come out of the Aldine presses, founded in 1494 by Aldus Manutius. It was preceded only by Constantine Lascaris's grammar, published the same year, and perhaps by one or two undated impressions. A very rare and precious Venetian incunabulum, sumptuously typeset in Greek - with the exception of the title, Aldus' preface and the colophon in Latin - and decorated with very fine wood-engraved bands and lettering. This "grammar highly esteemed by the Greeks" (Renouard) was, along with that of Lascaris, one of the main instruments for disseminating the Greek language during the Renaissance. It is followed in this edition by three other linguistic treatises in Greek: De mensibus by the same author, on the names of the Attic months; De constructione by Apollonius Dyscole, on syntax; and De numeris by Herodian, on numbers. The Byzantine humanist Theodore Gaza, born in Thessaloniki around 1400, left Constantinople surrounded by Ottoman forces for Italy in 1429. He taught Greek at the University of Ferrara from 1447 to 1449 and was then called to Rome to enter the service of Pope Nicholas V, for whom he produced important translations from Greek, including Aristotle's three treatises on animals and the Problemata and Theophrastus' two treatises on botany. Erasmus, who considered Theodore Gaza to be the first Greek grammarian, published a Latin translation of this grammar in 1516. Montaigne owned a copy of this original Aldine edition, now in the Chapin Library (Williams College, Mass.). A superb copy, wide-margined and very well preserved, in an elegant English binding attributed to Lewis. From the library of Sir John Hayford Thorold (1773-1831) at Syston Park Hall (1884, no. 821), with engraved bookplate and monogram. This precious volume later belonged to the collections of Robert Hoe (1911, no. 1477, "a fine copy of the second printed Greek grammar, and the second dated book from the Aldine Press... of great rarity"), with bookplate; T. J. Coolidge Jr. with bookplate; and Richard Bruce Myers Jr. with bookplate. Hinges and corner a little rubbed; foxing filled in margin of first few leaves. ISTC ig00110000 - HC 7500 - CIBN G-57 - Goff G110 - GW 10562 - Pell. 5002 - Pol. 1555 - BMC V 553 - Ahmanson-Murphy, 5 - Renouard , 4:2 - Brunet, II, 1512 ("very rare").