Epigrammata Antiquae Urbis

April 1521

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[Rome: Jacobus Mazzocchi]

Giacomo, or Jacobus Mazzocchi produced this anthology of antique Roman epigraphs in April 1521. On first glance, it seems that sheets of a medieval manuscript surplus to requirement were re-used for binding both covers; an instance of recycling. In fact, the sheets were for decoration purposes only, being pasted on top of existing vellum covers, which were certainly added much later on. The endpapers (a collective term for flyleaves and pastedowns) are paper, and because they do not cover the whole pasteboard, there is just visible the remains of a stave of medieval music. On display is a 15th century leaf from the Mass for Epiphany, with a 5-line initial ‘E’ depicting the three crowned Magi.