January 1515

The Lucretius of January 1515 was the last book printed by Aldus, shortly before his death on 6 February. The text had been revised and edited by Andrea Navagero (1483–1529), the editor of all the last Latin editions published by Aldus from the Cicero of 1514 onwards. Unlike Aldus’s first Lucretius of 1500, this book was a classical enchiridion, in the octavo format with text in Italic types, with no accompanying commentary or printed decoration.

Like Aldus’s first Lucretius, though, the edition was once again dedicated to Alberto Pio, Prince of Carpi, as if, at the end of his life, he wanted to close the cycle of his dedicatory letters addressing his last printed words and thoughts to his former pupil and constant supporter. Far from been sentimental, though, he was as always preoccupied with the correctness and accuracy of the text for the benefit of his learned readers, and apologised for having been prevented by illness from adding his own notes on Lucretius to Navagero’s edition. Ever the clever business man, however, he added the justification “it was necessary to make sure that the work did not exceed the proper limits and that the bulk of the volume would not become cumbersome”.

Keynes.H.1.33, fol. q6 recto