Description

Eusebius Caesariensis. Evangelicae praparationis lib. XV. [together with:] Evangelicae demonstrationis lib. X., 2 parts in 1, collation: a-z6, aa-ss6, tt4; Aa-Zz6, aaa-Ccc6, Ddd4, 498, [2]; 138 [i.e. 318], [2] pp., Greek text, woodcut printer's devices on titles, (Estienne's basilisk as king's printer), and on verso of final leaf his olive tree device, numerous grotesque and foliated headpieces and initials, a fine, wide-margined copy, scattered foxing and minor stains, title browned, a few spots, some underlining and marginal notes in an early hand, pencil bibliographical notes by Bernard Quaritch on rear pastedown, handsome contemporary German binding of blind-tooled brown leather over wooden boards, covers decorated with concentric frame pattern, with alternating rolls of heads of saints, the Virgin with Child, and the Crucifixion, early inked title on fore-edge, remains of metal clasps and cornerpieces, rebacked preserving original spine with five large raised bands, preserved in grey cloth box, folio, 330 x 217mm., Paris, Robert Estienne, 1544-46.

A superb copy in a contemporary binding of the first edition of these two works by the Christian exegete Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, also known as Eusebius Pamphili. The second and third volumes in a series of Greek texts printed by the Typographus Regius Robert Estienne from manuscripts belonging to the Royal Library in Fontainbleau, which began with Eusebius' Ecclesiastica historia, published earlier in 1544. The Eusebius series represents the first appearance of the first font known as grecs du roi, the types commissioned by King François I and cut by Claude Garamont. "The cursive Greek types, still acknowledged as some of the finest ever cut, were based on the script of the calligrapher Angelo Vergezio, who was then engaged in transcribing and cataloguing Greek manuscripts for the royal library" (Mortimer, French, I, pp. 266-267). The editions are enriched by a handsome set of foliated and grotesque Greek initials and headpieces, some of which are attributed to the renowned artist Geoffroy Tory.

Provenance: The theologian Gerhard Jansenius of the Benedictine monastery St Vitus in Gladsbach, Germany (ownership inscription on title, 'Liber monast: D: Viti martyr in gladbach ex testam: D. Gerhardi Iansenij Wirtens: pastor: Stelens: quond: Vdens:', datable to the end of the 16th century); 'Hoffmann 1841' (ownership inscription on recto of front flyleaf); Hans Fürstenberg (1890-1982).

Literature: Adams E-1082 and 87; Renouard, Estienne 59-60; Mortimer French, I, no. 220.

Lot 63

Eusebius Caesariensis. Evangelicae praparationis lib. XV. [together with:] Evangelicae demonstrationis lib. X., Paris, Robert Estienne, 1544-46.  

Hammer Price: £1,900

Description

Eusebius Caesariensis. Evangelicae praparationis lib. XV. [together with:] Evangelicae demonstrationis lib. X., 2 parts in 1, collation: a-z6, aa-ss6, tt4; Aa-Zz6, aaa-Ccc6, Ddd4, 498, [2]; 138 [i.e. 318], [2] pp., Greek text, woodcut printer's devices on titles, (Estienne's basilisk as king's printer), and on verso of final leaf his olive tree device, numerous grotesque and foliated headpieces and initials, a fine, wide-margined copy, scattered foxing and minor stains, title browned, a few spots, some underlining and marginal notes in an early hand, pencil bibliographical notes by Bernard Quaritch on rear pastedown, handsome contemporary German binding of blind-tooled brown leather over wooden boards, covers decorated with concentric frame pattern, with alternating rolls of heads of saints, the Virgin with Child, and the Crucifixion, early inked title on fore-edge, remains of metal clasps and cornerpieces, rebacked preserving original spine with five large raised bands, preserved in grey cloth box, folio, 330 x 217mm., Paris, Robert Estienne, 1544-46.

A superb copy in a contemporary binding of the first edition of these two works by the Christian exegete Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, also known as Eusebius Pamphili. The second and third volumes in a series of Greek texts printed by the Typographus Regius Robert Estienne from manuscripts belonging to the Royal Library in Fontainbleau, which began with Eusebius' Ecclesiastica historia, published earlier in 1544. The Eusebius series represents the first appearance of the first font known as grecs du roi, the types commissioned by King François I and cut by Claude Garamont. "The cursive Greek types, still acknowledged as some of the finest ever cut, were based on the script of the calligrapher Angelo Vergezio, who was then engaged in transcribing and cataloguing Greek manuscripts for the royal library" (Mortimer, French, I, pp. 266-267). The editions are enriched by a handsome set of foliated and grotesque Greek initials and headpieces, some of which are attributed to the renowned artist Geoffroy Tory.

Provenance: The theologian Gerhard Jansenius of the Benedictine monastery St Vitus in Gladsbach, Germany (ownership inscription on title, 'Liber monast: D: Viti martyr in gladbach ex testam: D. Gerhardi Iansenij Wirtens: pastor: Stelens: quond: Vdens:', datable to the end of the 16th century); 'Hoffmann 1841' (ownership inscription on recto of front flyleaf); Hans Fürstenberg (1890-1982).

Literature: Adams E-1082 and 87; Renouard, Estienne 59-60; Mortimer French, I, no. 220.

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