11.  PLINIUS SECUNDUS, C. Naturalis historia.  Venetiis, Nicolaus Jenson,
    1472.

Fol. 1, blank. Fol. 2^a:  CAIVS PLYNIVS MARCO SVO SALVTEM. Fol. 4^a:  CAII PLYNII SECVNDI NATVRALIS HISTORIAE LIBER .I.  CAIVS PLYNIVS SECVNDVS NOVOCOMENSIS DOMITIANO SVO SALVTEM.  PRAEFATIO. Fol. 21^a:  CAII PLINII SECVNDI NATVRALIS HISTORIAE LIBER .II. Fol. 355^a, COLOPHON:  CAII PLYNII SECVNDI NATVRALIS HISTORIAE LIBRI TRICESIMI SEPTIMI ET VLTIMI FINIS IMPRESSI VENETIIS PER NICOLAVM IENSON GALLICVM .M.CCCC.LXXII.  NICOLAO TRONO INCLYTO VENETIARVM DVCE. Followed by:  Iohannis andreae episcopi aleriensis ad pontificem summum Paulum secundum uenetum epistola. Fol. 356^a:  Hereneus lugdunensis episcopus:  item Iustinus ex philosopho martyr:  item cum diuo Hieronymo Eusebius caesariensis:  serio posteritatem adiurarunt:  ut eorum descripturi opera conferrent diligenter exemplaria:  et sollerti studio emendarent.  Idem ego tum in caeteris libris omnibus tum maxime i_n_ Plynio ut fiat; uehementer obsecro:  obtestor:  atq_ue_ adiuro:  ne ad priora menda:  et tenebras i_n_extricabiles tanti sudoris opus relabat_ur_.  Instauratu_m_ aliqua_n_tulu_m_ sub romano po_n_tifice maximo Paulo secu_n_do ueneto. Fol. 356^b, blank.

Folio.  Quires [1^{12}, 2^8, 3-8^{10}, 9^{12}, 10-15^{10}, 16^8, 17-27^{10}, 28^6, 29-30^{10}, 31-35^8, 36^{12}, 37^8], 356 leaves, first blank, 50 lines to the page, roman letter, without signatures, catchwords or pagination.  Two- to twelve-line spaces left for capitals, with guide-letters; also spaces for occasional Greek words.  Greek type sparingly used, oftener transliteration in roman.  Two pinholes.  Hain 13089.  Proctor 4087.  Morgan Cat.  II, p. 39, n. 297.

The rubrication of the present copy is not only elaborate but also of unusual merit.  The first of the twelve-line initials of the thirty-seven books is finely illuminated in gold and colors.  The others, in the outlines of which grotesque features are occasionally introduced, are set off by skilful pen-work, harmonizing in general effect, but carefully avoiding repetition in details.  The chapter initials also, a thousand or more in number, in alternate red and blue, or red and green, have much variety and grace.  The initial L, for example, occurring twenty-eight times in the first book, is never repeated in the same form and color.  The blank fol. 3^b is occupied by the name Jesus in very large and ornate characters, in different colors, surrounded by scroll and figure decoration.  The Bagneri arms, included in the ornamentation of the first initial, point to an early ownership of the volume, and the arms of the Antella family of Florence at the foot of the first page, to a later ownership.

The introductory epistle of the younger Pliny, describing his uncle’s manner of life, was addressed to his friend Macer, who here becomes Marcus by the easy transposition of Macro to Marco.  Less easily explained is the substitution in the dedication of Domitian for his brother Titus Vespasian, to whom Pliny dedicated the work.