Thucydides. The hystory writtone by Thucidides the Athenyan of the warre, whiche was betwene the Peloponesians and the Athenyans, translated by Thomas Nicolls, first edition in English, black letter, title within elaborate historiated woodcut border with royal arms at head, historiated and decorative woodcut initials, with the rare errata leaf at end, often missing, lacking Z1&6 (both provided in facsimile), wormed, mostly marginally, but some within text (this mostly small holes), decreasing in severity as the work proceeds, water-stained, heavier in places towards end (see in particular sigs. 2I&K), occasional spotting, 19th century blind-stamped calf, gilt, central episcopal arms to covers, spine in compartments, rubbed and little scuffed, [STC 24056], small folio, [by William Tylle], 25th July, 1550.

⁂ One of the earliest printed translations of Greek literature into English. Thucydides recounts the 5th-century B.C. war between Athens and Sparta and analyses the political and moral policies that fueled the combat.

Provenance: Robert Savile (ink signature and 'Delicta Juventutis mea, & ignorantias meas ne memineris domine' to recto and verso (here dated 1570) of title). Probably a member of the prominent Lincolnshire family of the same name.