THUCYDIDES. De bello Peloponnesiaco libri... - Lot 142 - Ader

Lot 142
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THUCYDIDES. De bello Peloponnesiaco libri... - Lot 142 - Ader
THUCYDIDES. De bello Peloponnesiaco libri octo. Frankfurt: heirs of André Wechel, Claude de Marne, Johann Aubry, 1594. - In-16, 119 x 78 : (16 ff.), 763 pp. Red morocco, boards decorated with a semi of 14 ovals formed of laurel branches enclosing six species of flowers, inscribed in a frame composed of palms and foliage bordered by a double fillet, in the centre appears a larger oval, including on the first plate the arms of the owner formed by an arched band charged with three fleurs-de-lis, and on the second a foot of three lilies surrounded by the motto "Expectata non eludet", smooth spine decorated in the same spirit, gilt edges (period binding). Sought-after edition of this Latin version of the Athenian historian Thucydides' work on the Peloponnesian War. This is the in-16 edition of the in-folio edition of the same year, featuring the Latin translation by Lorenzo Valla (1407-1457) revised by Henri Estienne, largely corrected and improved here by the Italian humanist Emilius Portus (1550-1614) and annotated by his father Franciscus Portus (1511-1581). This is the translation that was generally used in subsequent editions. There is also a life of Thucydides by Ammianus Marcellinus (0330?-0395?), translated and annotated by Isaac Casaubon (1559-1614). Precious copy in contemporary red morocco, fully ruled, bound for the Venetian diplomat Pierre Duodo (1554-1610), ambassador of the Republic of Venice to the court of Henry IV from 1594 to 1597. It is part of a series of about 150 small volumes, bound in Paris probably after 1597. These bindings are very characteristic, featuring a semi-flowered decoration with the owner's coat of arms in the centre of the first plate and three fleur-de-lis au naturel in the centre of the second plate surrounded by the motto "Expectata non eludet". Duodo used three different colours of morocco; red, as here, was used for works on theology, law, philosophy and history, olive green for books on literature, and lemon morocco for works on science, botany and medicine. The workshop that made these bindings is not known. Esmerian (I, p. 94) asserts that it was that of Clovis Eve, Hobson for his part attributes it to the "Atelier de la seconde Palmette" (Hobson and Culot, 178). (Hobson and Culot, 178-179). For a long time the arms were given as those of Marguerite de Valois, but it was not until 1925 that their true attribution was revealed, thanks to the research of Dr Bouland. Missing head cover, cracks at the hinges. Provenance: Pierre Duodo. - Count de Montalembert, peer of France, with his bookplate. - Roger Huet, with his bookplate.
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