Alessandro Guarini (1486-1556), commentary on the Poems of Catullus. Printed at Venice by Georgio de Rusconibus, May 1521.

The commentary is actually by Battista Guarini (d. 1513) and revised by his son.  The opening shows the characteristic page-format: the text of Catullus is in the middle, surrounded by the commentary, with further referencing in the margin.  This format was adopted from the familiar one used, from the 13th century on, in manuscripts containing texts of canon and civil law with commentary.  Note that everything is printed in italics, a typeface deriving from the cursive script adopted by Italian humanists of the 15th century.  The book contains an extensive errata section at the end, with the stern heading ‘[Mistakes] admitted by the printer’s carelessness are listed hereunder’.

Cent Rare PA 6276. G83 1521.  Acquired by Robert Dunbabin, first Professor of Classics at this University, 8 Feb. 1937; given by him to the University Library in 1940.

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