Jay Moschella
@jaymoschella.bsky.social
Parent, librarian, public servant, person in Boston
Finally, this book comes to us with well over 200 years of unbroken provenance. Together with the Jenson, these are the 59th and 60th incunables I’ve acquired for BPL since we began redeveloping the collection in 2019
Purchased from Maggs, now BPL Q.407.41 bpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S7... 7/7
Purchased from Maggs, now BPL Q.407.41 bpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S7... 7/7
November 20, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Finally, this book comes to us with well over 200 years of unbroken provenance. Together with the Jenson, these are the 59th and 60th incunables I’ve acquired for BPL since we began redeveloping the collection in 2019
Purchased from Maggs, now BPL Q.407.41 bpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S7... 7/7
Purchased from Maggs, now BPL Q.407.41 bpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S7... 7/7
Like the Jenson volume above, it fits our acquisition priorities for early books.
That is, it contains physical evidence of production, use and reading, like marginalia and rubrication. It also bolsters our holdings in general (surprisingly, we only have one other pre-1501 edition of Virgil). 6/7
That is, it contains physical evidence of production, use and reading, like marginalia and rubrication. It also bolsters our holdings in general (surprisingly, we only have one other pre-1501 edition of Virgil). 6/7
November 20, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Like the Jenson volume above, it fits our acquisition priorities for early books.
That is, it contains physical evidence of production, use and reading, like marginalia and rubrication. It also bolsters our holdings in general (surprisingly, we only have one other pre-1501 edition of Virgil). 6/7
That is, it contains physical evidence of production, use and reading, like marginalia and rubrication. It also bolsters our holdings in general (surprisingly, we only have one other pre-1501 edition of Virgil). 6/7
Virgil. Opera. Milan: Joannes Antonius de Honate, ca. 1480
Though editions of Virgil were printed constantly between 1469 and 1501 many, if not most of these editions are survived by surprisingly few copies. This edition, printed in 1480, is one of just seven surviving copies. 5/7
Though editions of Virgil were printed constantly between 1469 and 1501 many, if not most of these editions are survived by surprisingly few copies. This edition, printed in 1480, is one of just seven surviving copies. 5/7
November 20, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Virgil. Opera. Milan: Joannes Antonius de Honate, ca. 1480
Though editions of Virgil were printed constantly between 1469 and 1501 many, if not most of these editions are survived by surprisingly few copies. This edition, printed in 1480, is one of just seven surviving copies. 5/7
Though editions of Virgil were printed constantly between 1469 and 1501 many, if not most of these editions are survived by surprisingly few copies. This edition, printed in 1480, is one of just seven surviving copies. 5/7
Purchased from @quaritch1847.bsky.social, it’s now BPL Q.407.42 bpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S7... 4/7
Marci Catonis Prisci de re rustica liber — Boston Public Library
Marci Catonis Prisci de re rustica liber
bpl.bibliocommons.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Purchased from @quaritch1847.bsky.social, it’s now BPL Q.407.42 bpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S7... 4/7
Despite being a frankenbook, it preserves a trove of very early evidence (illuminated initials, marginalia, identifiable early binding). It also comes with about 300 years of unbroken provenance, which is important for us -- a public library -- as we look to model ethical acquisition practices. 3/7
November 20, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Despite being a frankenbook, it preserves a trove of very early evidence (illuminated initials, marginalia, identifiable early binding). It also comes with about 300 years of unbroken provenance, which is important for us -- a public library -- as we look to model ethical acquisition practices. 3/7
Scriptores rei rusticae. Venice: Nicolaus Jenson, 1472
The first printed edition of this compendium of classical texts on agriculture and rural life. This volume actually comprises two separate copies attached together to make one complete whole. 2/7
The first printed edition of this compendium of classical texts on agriculture and rural life. This volume actually comprises two separate copies attached together to make one complete whole. 2/7
November 20, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Scriptores rei rusticae. Venice: Nicolaus Jenson, 1472
The first printed edition of this compendium of classical texts on agriculture and rural life. This volume actually comprises two separate copies attached together to make one complete whole. 2/7
The first printed edition of this compendium of classical texts on agriculture and rural life. This volume actually comprises two separate copies attached together to make one complete whole. 2/7
I am yet to recover from the old Hollis, which had its problems, switching over to Primo, which is simply impossible
November 19, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I am yet to recover from the old Hollis, which had its problems, switching over to Primo, which is simply impossible
Overjoyed to say that this is now on my desk. The auction house -- and the consignor in particular -- were enthusiastically cooperative and now this frankly incredible manuscript is back in Boston. Many thanks to you and to @drleonj.bsky.social for bringing this to my attention!
November 13, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Overjoyed to say that this is now on my desk. The auction house -- and the consignor in particular -- were enthusiastically cooperative and now this frankly incredible manuscript is back in Boston. Many thanks to you and to @drleonj.bsky.social for bringing this to my attention!
Same position. If I'm honest, I just don't believe we'll see the credits -- they'll find some way to spike it. But here's hoping. Project not quite finished yet.
November 11, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Same position. If I'm honest, I just don't believe we'll see the credits -- they'll find some way to spike it. But here's hoping. Project not quite finished yet.
Primary him, please!
November 10, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Primary him, please!
Thus it follows that better cataloging enables better decision making; poorer cataloging enables poorer decision making. But at least some cataloging is better than none. Either way, it's the foundation of everything else that flows from holding collections.
October 30, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Thus it follows that better cataloging enables better decision making; poorer cataloging enables poorer decision making. But at least some cataloging is better than none. Either way, it's the foundation of everything else that flows from holding collections.
Cataloging is the fundamental work of asset management. Without it, an institution cannot fulfill the legal, ethical, or fiduciary aspects of collection management. Shorter: if you don't know what you have or where it came from, you can't make informed decisions at any level.
October 30, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Cataloging is the fundamental work of asset management. Without it, an institution cannot fulfill the legal, ethical, or fiduciary aspects of collection management. Shorter: if you don't know what you have or where it came from, you can't make informed decisions at any level.
In a way. While the margins were not left wide specifically for decoration at the opening, hand finishing early printed books was not at all uncommon.
September 18, 2025 at 12:16 PM
In a way. While the margins were not left wide specifically for decoration at the opening, hand finishing early printed books was not at all uncommon.
A 1471 edition of Valerius Maximus, printed in Mainz by Peter Schoeffer. An artifact from a period in European printing history when innovations in presswork (and the printing press itself) were just taking hold. The illuminated border is a 19th-century addition. 3 of 3
September 18, 2025 at 10:57 AM
A 1471 edition of Valerius Maximus, printed in Mainz by Peter Schoeffer. An artifact from a period in European printing history when innovations in presswork (and the printing press itself) were just taking hold. The illuminated border is a 19th-century addition. 3 of 3
An extremely rare illustrated version of Aesop’s fables intended for Italian school children to learn Latin. Printed in Milan in 1497, this is one of 5 recorded copies. At BPL, it joins a strong collection of other editions of 15th-century Aesop school texts. 2/3
September 18, 2025 at 10:57 AM
An extremely rare illustrated version of Aesop’s fables intended for Italian school children to learn Latin. Printed in Milan in 1497, this is one of 5 recorded copies. At BPL, it joins a strong collection of other editions of 15th-century Aesop school texts. 2/3