SASSONE, Grammatico (attivo ca. 1200) - Danorum regum heroumque historiae. Paris: Josse Bade, 1514. A very good ...

SASSONE, Grammatico (attivo ca. 1200) - Danorum regum heroumque historiae. Paris: Josse Bade, 1514. A very good copy of the edition princeps in good conditions of the Gesta Danorum, the most renowned and importans Medieval historical account of Denmark and an essential source for the nation's early history. The original manuscripts of the work are lost, except for four fragments of which one written by Saxo and the others 13th-century copies. Christiern Pedersen published the work in 1514 preparing the woods for the title-page and for some of the elaborated initials. The work is also believed to be one of the primary source for Shakespear's Hamlet. Folio (282 x 196mm). Title within elaborate architecture border printed in red and black and partially coloured in red, woodcut vignette within title signed CP, woodcut initials, some of large format and historiated, with final blank (light stain in center of title-page, small repair in margin of 2A2). Contemporary half pigsking, panels in later speckled paper, manuscript title on spine, red speckled edges (light wear on spine). The lot is accompanied by a export license.