Eusebius Caesariensis. Eusebiou tou Pamphilou Euangelikës proparaskeuës bib. pente kai deka. Eusebii Pamphili Evangelicae praeparationis Lib. XV. Ex Bibliotheca Regia [Greek]. Paris: Robert Estienne, 1544.
[together with]
Eusebius Caesariensis, Eusebiou tou Pamphilou Euangelikës apodeixeōs biblia deka. Eusebii Pamphili Evangelicae demonstrationis Lib. X. Ex Bibliotheca Regia [Greek]. Paris: Robert Estienne, [1545–] April 1546
THE EDITO PRINCEPS OF BOTH OF THESE WORKS BY EUSEBIUS, THE IMPORTANT EARLY CHURCH FATHER, FINELY PRINTED BY ESTIENNE IN THE POST INCUNABLE PERIOD.
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For these first editions of Eusebius, Estienne employed for the first time the 'grecs du roi' font commissioned by François I; this was based on the script of the Cretan calligrapher Angelos Vergikios and cut by Claude Garamond. As Schreiber states, 'these cursive Greek types are universally acknowledged as the finest ever cut'.
Also for the first time, Estienne used a stunning new set of matching woodcut head-pieces and display initials.
A beautiful copy of this very famous and important first edition from Estienne's press.
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Size: 215 x 338 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(2), t.p., a2-2t4, t.p., 2A2-3D4, (3)]
2 volumes bound into one, folio format. Text in Greek with Estienne's famous woodcut device to the title pages as well as his olive tree device to the verso of the rear colophon. Collates as complete despite a few mispaginations as printed, with one original blank (only) bound in at the rear. In the first volume the gathering pagination does change as follows [a1-z6, 2a1-2s6, 2t4] and in the second volume, [2a1-2z6, 3a1-3c6, 3d4], as called for, and does collate as complete through both volumes according to the USTC copy. Some light pencil marginalia (in Greek) throughout, but very light, and only to a few leaves (both vols). Scored out stamp(?) to main title page next to the printer's device, title page vertically creased as often. An extremely light small red stain affects the first and last few leaves in the marginal space, not affecting text. The top of the page block at the fore-edge has been slightly wormed but not significantly. Else the text blocks are exceptionally clean throughout, bright, without foxing or dampstaining, internally excellent.
Relatively recent half calf over marbled paper backed boards, the spine laid with an earlier tooled morocco label on top of newer morocco. Some minor rubbing to binding but overall in near fine condition; the binding is of rather fine quality, not signed or stamped. Replaced blanks at the front and rear, one original blank retained at the rear (only). Some light pencil marks to ffep verso from a previous bookseller as often.
An excellent copy of this scarce first edition of these two works of Eusebius printed on very nice paper in lovely Greek type.
[USTC 149170].
