The Metamorphoses are the most famous work of the Roman poet Ovid (43 BC - AD 17/18). It is an epic that has remained one of the most recognisable works of western mythology since it was written two thousand years ago. It is a comprehensive collection of Roman myths, many of them adapted from Greek originals, from the creation of the world to through to the deification of Julius Caesar in 42 BC. Its popularity continued through the medieval period, the Renaissance and beyond, influencing authors such as Dante Alighieri, Geoffrey Chaucer, and William Shakespeare.

This is a copy from the ninth edition of this work in the original Latin, which includes a commentary by the humanist Raffaele Regio. It was printed in Venice by Boneto Locatello for Ottaviano Scoto, an unauthorised edition violating Simone Bevilaqua's privilege.

Binding description
Sixteenth-century marbled calfskin. Covers decorated with gilt fillets to form a border; central armorial stamp with the three fleurs-de-lis of France on a shield, surmounted by a crown and surrounded by two chains resembling garter collars, the inner with shells and the outer with fleur-de-lis and the letter ‘H’ surmounted by a small crown – all surrounded by a wreath with an outer twisted vine and leaf design. Spine with six raised bands, decorated with gilt tooling and titling (‘OVIDIUS 1493’), including swirling vine corner tools and the central crowned monogram of Louis XIV. This is a very similar binding, in both material used and gold-tooled design, to RCIN 1057907. Armorial tool smaller but similar to those found in RCINs 1083425 and 1083426.