Specimen of a Historical and Critical Library of Rare Physical and Medical Books

I. II. with the manuscript notes of Joseph Scaliger.

This most excellent Codex, which is preserved in the most splendid Augusta Library—the eternal ornament of our city—rightly leads the procession, and it is one and unique. For although I do not wish to commemorate this Aldine edition itself, which is rare in itself and was recently sold at the auction of the Platnerian Library in Leipzig for the price of XVI thalers; it is permitted to contemplate this Scaligerian codex of his, which is at hand.

Therefore, as far as its external form and history pertain: it consists of two sufficiently thick volumes, in French binding, and on the decorated spine the inscription:

Translation: "Greek Galen, Aldine, corrected by the own hand of J. Scaliger."

Above the book title, we read words written by the hand of A. E. VORSTIUS, who once preserved it, as we shall hear: From the testament of the Illustrious Joseph Scaliger, my godfather. Below the title, we see these words written by the hand of Marqu. Gudius:

Whoever you are who see these books of Galen,
Turned by the learned hand of SCALIGER,
Know that they were redeemed at a huge price,
By him who corrected so many faulty things here.
This erasure gave value to them.