History

New edition. Although we have found no trace of this Basel edition, the first edition was published in Venice by Aldus in 1527 (with a different collation). Not held by the Bibliothèque nationale de France and absent from French catalogues. Oxford holds an edition with the same date. English catalogues mention several copies at different dates. Printed in italic type.
Fine contemporary German binding on pigskin with clasps in perfect working order. Spine with 3 raised bands, unlettered, with handwritten paper lettering piece, boards stamped in blind with decorative rolls in frames (leafy designs with medallions representing Erasmus of Rotterdam and Philip of Milan, Martin of Paris, John of ??). Central rectangle with interlacing foliate mirror patterns. 2 dampstains on the upper board (one 2cm in diameter and the other 4cm extending outward). Fresh paper.
Priscian was a Roman grammarian of the 6th century AD, whose Latin name was Priscianus Caesariensis (named after his native city of Caesarea, in Mauritania). Little is ultimately known of his existence, except that he taught in Constantinople, and above all that his major work to which he owes his fame, the Institutiones Grammaticae (in 18 books), became the reference for Latin grammar until the end of the Middle Ages. The present work is a collection that brings together different works by Priscian, linguistic studies or translations of Hermogenes and Dionysius Periegetes.

This is the penultimate edition of the most famous historical dictionary, an inexhaustible source that remains highly sought after for both history and genealogy. This edition was refined by Platel and considerably expanded. The first edition was the only one published during the author's lifetime, in 1664, in one folio volume.
Bindings in full dark brown glazed mottled calf, spine with raised bands decorated with animal tools, red morocco title labels. Unidentified arms on the boards (possibly of a town or the Oormsgard family, but non-French arms) with a lion facing forward (and not in profile as usual) holding a castle.
Copy complete with the frontispiece.
Volume I has the upper joint cracked two-thirds of the way and both headcaps worn, the other 7 volumes are in good condition with various minor defects. Volume 2, a tear with loss to the upper headcap, small damage to the joints. Volume VI, a tear with slight loss to the upper headcap. Volume VII, lower joint cracked and open for one-third. Volume VIII, a tear to the upper headcap with small loss, 10 cm splits to both joints. Handsome copy nonetheless.

Collection of 5 royal ordinances on various subjects.

1/ Edict faict par le roy contre tous meurdres et assassinementz qui se commettent journellement en ce royaume, le vendredi, quinziesme du moys de juillet 1547. Title vignette with royal arms.

2/ Ordonnance nouvelle du roy Henry deuxiesme de ce nom, faicte le XV jour de novembre, Mil cinq cens quarente sept:sur le faict de la gendarmerie.

3/ Secondes lettres patentes du roy Henry Second de ce nom, sur le faict des francz fiefz & nouveaux acquestz par tout le royaume de France, publiées à son de trompe & cry public par les carrefours de ceste ville de Paris, le unzieme jour de janvier, l'an mil cinq cens quarante sept.

4/ Ordonnaces faictes par le roy sur le faict de la gendarmerie, viures et munitions d'icelle. Vignette with royal arms.

5/ Ordonnances & edicts du roy Henry sur les estats des prevostz majeurs, eschevins & autres charges & estatz des villes de France. Publié en jugement en la court de parlement a Paris, le XXVIII jour de Novembre, M.D.XLVII.

Full vellum binding, re-used.
It should be noted that it was during the time of Francis I and Henry II that absolute royal power was definitively organized, and ordinances in all domains bear witness to a king managing his kingdom.

Rare. We have found nothing concerning this work, absent from libraries.
Half calf Romantic binding with corners in red, smooth spine with 4 tools and fillets. Foxing. One corner of the title page border reinforced.
In the form of a tale and dialogue between a father and son, the author examines the nobility of character of a good merchant, how he should be a good father to his son and a good father to his country. Numerous passages on the importance of agriculture. « Ce travail lui donna des vues très étendues sur les rapports du commerce, avec le bonheur particulier & général des hommes? » (This work gave him very extensive views on the relationship of commerce with the particular & general happiness of mankind?).

The first French translation appears to have been published in 1549, simultaneously with the Latin translation from the German. Rare. Not recorded at the Bibliothèque nationale de France nor in English catalogues, with only one copy located at the municipal library of Lunel.
Contemporary full calf binding, spine with raised bands and a paper title label. Covers decorated with a cold-stamped rectangular frame and fleurs-de-lis in the corners, with a central blind-stamped tool. Upper headcap torn away, two compartments and half of another lacking. One fleur-de-lis missing. Corners rubbed. A worm track in the lower margin from p. 12 to 32. A few light dampstains on about ten leaves. Contemporary annotations on the title-page.

First edition. Printed in two columns.
Contemporary full calf binding. Spine with raised bands, compartments gilt-tooled. Red morocco label. Some pages slightly browned. A good copy overall.
A study based on the Tabula of Cebes of Thebes, a Socratic philosopher and disciple of Socrates, as well as on Xenophon's Memorabilia and Epictetus' Enchiridion. Numerous Greek and Hebrew quotations. The author discusses the Phoenicians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, with particular attention to the chronology of events.
Heinrich Mascamp was a professor in Duisburg. He was born and educated in the Netherlands.

NB: This item is available at the bookshop upon request within 48 hours.

First edition of the famous translation by Abraham Loesher, the best and most faithful edition according to Clavier. The editio princeps of this text dates from 1516, printed by the Aldine Press in Venice, but according to Brunet (IV, 454), although rare, it was made from a poor manuscript and was executed carelessly, which gives full importance to the edition we present. Publication date in colophon. Printer's device on verso of final leaf, with the inscription Arion. Historiated initials.
Contemporary full calf binding. Spine with raised bands restored at the end of the 19th century, with fleurons and roulettes on the bands, red morocco title label. Corners restored. On the upper board, gilt: G. Harrosset. Numerous scratches on the boards. Some worming on the lower board. The bottom of the title page has been reinforced over 1cm. Minor damage of no consequence: A pale dampstain in lower margin (another in upper margin on some leaves) fading until page 48, resuming on the last 20 pages and the index. Worming between page 26 and 46 in the lower right corner. A second from page 349 to 413 in right margin, at the very bottom.
Pausanias was a geographer and writer of the 2nd century AD. His description of Greece constitutes a testimony of primary importance on Greece in the Roman period, particularly for the 2nd century of the Christian era, even though Pausanias often delights in mixing history and mythology. In the manner of a modern travel guide, he gives, as he follows his itinerary, the detailed list of sites he visits and the legends relating to them. Numerous archaeological excavations have repeatedly confirmed the veracity of his information, especially concerning historical sites and the works of art they contained. To describe the monuments and sites he visits, Pausanias (115-180) searches libraries and travels extensively.