Προμηθευς Δεσμωτηως, Επτα επι Θηβαις [...]. Paris: Adrien Turnèbe, 1552, 8vo.
The Tragedies of Aeschylus. Printed in Paris by Adrianus Turnebus in 1552.
RARE SECOND EDITION OF AESCHYLUS FOLLOWING ONLY THE ALDINE EDITION OF 1518. CONTAINING ALL SEVEN EXTANT PLAYS, PRECEDING THE EDITO PRINCEPS OF AGEMEMNON.
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Aeschylus' plays have an interesting printing history, with this edition (printed simultaneously in Paris and Venice) and the Aldine edition all containing the full seven extant plays, but with the text of Agamemnon rather corrupted due to a manuscript tradition with a lacuna of more than two-thirds of Agamemnon. The edito princeps of Agamemnon thus followed a few years later at Estienne's press. This edition failed to properly distinguish between Agamemnon and Libation-Bearers.
This second edition of Aeschylus is therefore one of the earliest obtainable copies of Aeschylus' plays, with the 1518 Aldine edition being both scarce and rather expensive. Our copy is in a remarkable fine binding, bound circa 1760-1770, in finely tooled full red morocco in the manner of Roger Payne, perhaps being attributable to him.
This is the first book printed at the press of Adrianus Turnebus.
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Provenance:
Bookplate of T. Gaisford, S.T.P. to front pastedown, the important collector of classics and Oxford classical scholar active in the circle of Immanuel Bekker, etc.
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Size: 106 x 159 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(3), t.p., a2-a4, A1-O2 (212pp), (3)]
18th century full red morocco binding finely tooled in gilt to spine and both boards in the manner of Roger Payne. Spine faded and rubbed, minor loss at head, retaining its tooled black morocco label. Both boards are bright without significant gilt loss. Joints rubbed, slightly cracked, but with both boards securely attached, the binding secure, and without shelf lean. Edges marbled, contemporaneous to binding. Bookplate to front pastedown. Blanks are replacements, thus lacks the original blanks. A few light pencil writings to endpaper blanks as typically found. Very clean throughout the full text block. Title page and gathering [a] toned else internally excellent.
An excellent copy in a lovely fine binding.
[Adams A263].
