Facta et dicta memorabilia translates to ‘memorable deeds and sayings’. It is a collection of approximately 1000 facts and anecdotes that convey moral teachings, although to the modern reader it also provides information about how the Romans lived, including contemporary portrayals of homosexuality and women’s roles in society. Their author, the Roman historian Valerius Maximus, aimed his work at rhetoricians, so that they may use these examples to support their arguments.

Valerius has been criticised for his florid writing style, presenting complex structure and intricate language. Nevertheless, probably because of its moral content, his work was extremely popular as a school text in the medieval and Renaissance periods, with 30 printed editions recorded from the fifteenth century.

This is the first printed edition of the text, produced by Johann Mentelin in Strasbourg, who may have learnt the art of printing from Johannes Gutenberg.

Binding description
Nineteenth-century brown pigskin decorated with blind fillets and gilt roll to form a border; same pattern on turn-ins. Spine with five raised bands to lace on boards, decorated with gilt tools and titling. Textblock trimmed but damaged by a former clasp on the long fore-edge; top fore-edge includes ink inscription suggesting the book was originally stored flat. Endpapers of vellum and modern plain paper. Stamped by Cross, binders to the King.