Discovering the Incunabula of Ulisse Aldrovandi. First Survey and Rediscovery of a Copy

Abstract

The article describes the project for the survey of incunabula belonging to the Bolognese naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi. The Fifteenth-century printed editions, currently scattered within the collections of the BUB, have been identified through shelf checks and historical catalogs. The analysis and cataloging work of the incunabula started by inserting descriptions into the online catalog of SBN. All specimen data have also been recorded: marginalia, attention marks, owners, provenance, ownership notes, stamps, and binding. Noteworthy is the recent discovery of an incunabulum by Ulisse Aldrovandi, considered lost for many decades. The volume has finally returned to the massive heritage of the BUB and will undergo some conservation intervention in the coming months.