View source for Auli Gellii Noctes Atticae

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Auli Gellii Noctes Atticae''}}
===by Aulus Gellius===
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{{BookPageInfoBox
|imagename=AuliGelliNoctesAtticae1651Titlepage.jpg
|link=https://wm.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01COWM_INST/g9pr7p/alma991021554179703196
|shorttitle=Auli Gellii Noctes Atticae
|author=[[:Category:Aulus Gellius|Aulus Gellius]]
|editor=[[:Category:Johann Friedrich Gronovius|Joannes Fredericus Gronovius]]
|edition=Editio nova et prioribus omnibus docti hominis cura multo castigatior
|lang=[[:Category:Latin|Latin]]
|publoc=[[:Category:Amsterdam|Amstelodami]]
|publisher=Apud Ludovicum Elzevirium
|year=1651
|pages=[48], 498, [126] 
|desc=[[:Category:Duodecimos|12mo]] (14 cm.)
|shelf=J-4
}}{{BookPageBookplate
|imagename=AuliGelliNoctesAtticae1651BookplateFPD.jpg
|display=left
|caption=Bookplate of Charles Voiriot, front pastedown.
}}[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aulus_Gellius Aulus Gellius] (c. 125–after 180 CE) was a Roman miscellanist -- one who collects or compiles writings on miscellaneous topics. The only information about him is from ''Attic Nights''.<ref>"[http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780192801463.001.0001/acref-9780192801463-e-940 Gellius, Aulus]" in ''Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World'', ed. by John Roberts (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007).</ref> Gellius spent most of his life in Rome, though he spent a year in Athens for his education.<ref>Ibid.</ref> A judge of private cases, Gellius was more interested in ancient law than in modern practice.<ref>Ibid.</ref><br/>
<br/>Throughout the centuries, Gellius has been seen as “an ancient ''litteratus'' with whom [people have] a community of interests.”<ref>Charles N. Smiley, reviewer, "''The Attic Nights'' of Aulus Gellius by J. C. Rolfe'" ''The Classical Journal'' 24, no. 4 (Jan. 1929): 295.</ref> He collected material throughout the winter nights in Attica and later arranged it for the “amusement and instruction of his children."<ref>"[http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199548545.001.0001/acref-9780199548545-e-1352 Ge'llius, Aulus]" in ''The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature'', ed. by M.C. Howatson (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011).</ref> In this compilation of Greek and Roman writing, Gellius “quotes and discusses portions of some two hundred and seventy-five ancient authors” including more than eighty passages from Cicero, sixty difficult sentences from Virgil, and choice information about Julius Caesar.<ref>Charles N. Smiley, "''The Attic Nights'' of Aulus Gellius by J. C. Rolfe,” 295.</ref> The thousands of passages contained in his work make Gellius a valuable source for much early Latin literature that is not extant.<ref>"Ge'llius, Aulus" in ''The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature''.</ref>

==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library==
Listed in the [[Jefferson Inventory]] of [[Wythe's Library]] as "Auli Gellii noctes Atticae. p.f." and given by [[Thomas Jefferson]] to his grandson [[Thomas Jefferson Randolph]]. The precise edition owned by Wythe is unknown. [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe George Wythe's Library]<ref>''LibraryThing'', s. v. "[http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe Member: George Wythe]," accessed on February 28, 2014.</ref> on LibraryThing indicates this, adding "Probably a portion of the work only." The [https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433 Brown Bibliography]<ref> Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433.</ref> lists the quarto edition published in Leiden in 1706 based on the copy Jefferson sold to the Library of Congress.<ref>E. Millicent Sowerby, ''Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson'', (Washington, D.C.: The Library of Congress, 1952-1959), 5:161 [http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015033648133;view=1up;seq=177 [no.4905]].</ref> Brown also mentions a second Jefferson copy&mdash;one in duodecimo, published in Amsterdam in 1651&mdash;sold by his grandson, Francis Eppes in 1873. This copy matches Jefferson's Wythe inventory designation of "p.f." (by which he always meant a size smaller than octavo) better than the quarto version sold to the Library of Congress. The Wolf Law Library purchased a copy of the 1651 Amsterdam edition.
[[File:AuliGelliNoctesAtticae1651BookplateTPV.jpg|left|thumb|180px|<center>Unsigned bookplate, title page verso.</center>]]

==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy==
Bound in quarter calf with marbled boards. Spines feature gilt bands and decoration and a black morocco label with gilt lettering. Includes the armorial bookplate of Charles Voiriot with the French motto "Libre et Brave" (Free and brave) on the front pastedown and an unsigned bookplate on the title page verso. Stamped on the front free endpaper with "Ch. Voiroit" written above and "Chambery" written below the stamp. Purchased from Liseronsblancs.

Images of the library's copy of this book are [https://www.flickr.com/photos/wolflawlibrary/sets/72157660274258418 available on Flickr.] View the record for this book in [https://wm.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01COWM_INST/g9pr7p/alma991021554179703196 William & Mary's online catalog.]
[[File:AuliGelliNoctesAtticae1651Inscription.jpg|right|thumb|200px|<center>Stamp and inscription, front free endpaper.</center>]]

==See also==
<div style="overflow: hidden;">
*[[George Wythe Room]]
*[[Jefferson Inventory]]
*[[Wythe's Library]]
</div>

==References==
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<references/>
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[[Category:Aulus Gellius]]
[[Category:George Wythe Collection at William & Mary's Wolf Law Library]]
[[Category:Johann Friedrich Gronovius]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]
[[Category:Thomas Jefferson Randolph's Books]]
[[Category:Titles in Wythe's Library]]

[[Category:Amsterdam]]
[[Category:Duodecimos]]
[[Category:Latin]]