Herodoti Halicarnassei Historia, sive, Historiarum Libri IX, qui inscribuntur Musae. Ex vetustis exemplaribus recogniti. Ctesiae Quaedam. Paris: Henri Estienne, 1570. [Together with] Herodoti Halicarnassei historiae lib. IX. et de vita Homeri libellus. [...]. Paris: Henri Estienne, 1566, folio.
THE FAMOUS AND IMPORTANT FIRST ESTIENNE EDITIONS OF HERODOTUS, COLLATED AS COMPLETE INCLUDING THE OFTEN LACKING BUT INTEGRAL FOUR FOLDOUT PLATES, ALSO INCLUDING THE CONTROVERSIAL APOLOGIA.
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EXTREMELY RARE COMPLETE WITH THE FOUR PLATES. A beautiful copy of Estienne's magnificent folio edition of Herodotus, here complete with both parts, and collated as complete including the stunning four foldout plates. The latter part was printed four years prior and so is usually encountered separately, and even if encountered, usually lacks the four plates, or often much more, particularly the Apologia section. Here we find both parts complete with the magnificent plates, which, while not necessarily called for, are according to Schreiber (in regard to the 1592 edition), an integral part of the book.
This printing of the 1566 title is very historically important as it pertains to the Estienne Press, the early Calvinist/Reformer movements, and the Protestant Reformation more generally, as it includes Estienne's satirical section titled "Apologia pro-Herodoto" which led to the arrest of Estienne and his trial in Geneva for reasons explained in the quote below from Dr Noreen Humble. He was forced to cancel certain pages and in many extant copies, parts of the *-4* gatherings are covered with blank paper to hide the controversial material. However, in our copy, the text is uncovered and in fine condition, which adds to the appeal of this copy even further.
"The first printing, in 1566, (a copy of which can be found in the Edward Worth library) was dedicated to another great Greek scholar of the period, Joachim Camerarius (1500-1574), who indeed had been the first to defend the veracity of Herodotus’ work (in a 1541 edition of Herodotus). This edition contained Latin translations of Herodotus by Lorenzo Valla and of the pseudo-Herodotean Life of Homer by Conrad Heresbach (1496-1576, a German Calvinist humanist), as edited by Estienne himself. It also contained the Latin translation of the fragments of Ctesias. Estienne had been the first to collect and publish the Greek text of the fragments of Ctesias in 1557...
This 1566 edition also contained Estienne’s own Apologia pro Herodoto. In this treatise he defends Herodotus’ reliability as an ethnographer and historian against his detractors. The main argument rests on a comparison between Herodotus’ description of the customs of peoples of the ancient Near East with modern descriptions of these peoples and their customs. Herodotus’ observations are in this way vindicated. The second main argument was that Herodotus was too pious to lie. However we might judge Estienne’s arguments now, the tide started to turn in terms of how Herodotus was regarded, and he was viewed very favourably for at least the next century or so, and particularly among scholars of the Reformed faith. Much more well known, however, was Estienne’s French version of this work, Apologie pour Hérodote. This French work used the earlier Latin piece as a framework for a satirical attack on Catholicism." [Dr Noreen Humble, University of Calgary]
"In 1566 Estienne published a Latin edition of Herodotus, with an apologia accompanied by a French version. This “Apologie pour Hérodote,” perhaps Estienne’s most famous work, caused Estienne trouble in Geneva. Ostensibly designed to show how the strange stories in Herodotus are paralleled by equally strange ones in modern times, it is bitterly satirical of his own age. Some passages were most objectionable to Genevan churchmen, and Estienne was arrested and tried and was obliged to cancel the offending pages. Even so, the book went through 12 editions in 16 years." [Henri Estienne in Encyclopaedia Britannica]
A similar though inferior copy sold at Forum Auctions 22nd September 2016 lot 359, realising £2,470, and another, similarly inferior, sold at Chiswick Auctions 28th November 2018 lot 37 for £1,900. Here this hugely significant & important first edition from the Estienne Press is offered at a very competitive price indeed given its completeness and excellent condition.
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Size: 225 x 352 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(2), α4, β4. γ4, a-i6, lz6, l-z6, aa-ff6, gg8, hh6, ii4]; [**6, ***4, ****6, A-V6, X-Y4, four foldouts, Z6, Aa-Bb6, (2)]
Early 18th century full calf binding, the spine finely tooled in gilt in compartments between large raised bands. The spine retains its tooled red morocco label. Binding rubbed with some scuffs, but remains very attractive indeed. Both boards are securely attached, the binding is secure, and stands without shelf lean. Joints cracked, notably to the front. Ownership inscription to front pastedown dated 1730, providing a terminus ante quem for the date of the binding as the pastedowns and endpapers are contemporary to the binding. Ink shelf reference mark below the ownership inscription in a different hand, possibly secretarial of the former, or later. No attached bookplates. Collates as complete, including the four finely engraved foldout plates which are often lacking. Some minor staining to the fore-edge of the Tower of Babylon foldout and next leaf (Z1), seemingly resulting from the colouring of the page block edges, though does not effect elsewhere. Extremely bright and clean throughout the entire text block, an extremely rare fine condition text block - the odd mark to a few leaves, but generally very fine indeed. Probably the best obtainable copy of this important first Estienne edition of these two works of Herodotus.
[Adams H397].
