[Works, Greek & Latin] Τα σωζομενα συγγραμματα... Quae extant opera, cum Latina intepretatione.[Geneva], Henri Estienne, 1572

FINELY BOUND & RARELY FOUND COMPLETE

Woodcut Estienne device (Schreiber 17) on two title-pages, fine foliated initials and headpieces throughout.

Four parts in 13 volumes, 8vo (171 x 100mm). English straight-grained red morocco of c.1800, covers with single gilt fillet border and very faint impressions of an armorial stamp, spines richly gilt and lettered in compartments, gilt edges (spines slightly faded)

Editio princeps of the complete works of Plutarch, holding not only the Greek text and Latin translation but also the extremely rare Index and volume XIII, which holds the Appendix.

Already uncommon in his day, Renouard notes, "Ce dernier manque quelquefois, mais alors les douze autres ne sent plus qu'un livre imparfait ed déchu d'une grande partie de sa valeur". Schreiber explains its importance, "With this edition Henri Estienne established the traditional order of the Lives and Moralia still universally followed today (e.g. in the Tuebner, Loeb and Budé series of classical texts). The Greek text is newly edited by Henri Estienne "who has corrected it in many places from ancient manuscript sources, and through conjectural emendation" (Schreiber) while the Latin translations are by Erasmus, Budé, Turnèbe, Cruser and others.

This set is finely bound in red morocco and has a fascinating provenance, belonging to three English antiquarians and bibliophiles of the 17th to 19th centuries, and then to a notable Greek economist of the early 20th century.

Provenance: 1. John Bridges (1666-1724), county historian, his signature on flyleaves, and Latin note of acquisition in vol. VII, bought in London from the bookseller Christopher Bateman for £4-10s on 13 July 1696, his sale, 1726, lot 34 (described as a lovely copy with gilt edges), £3-15-0. ODNB says of Bridges, "On 7 April 1708 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society; in 1712 and 1715 he was voted on to the council. In common with many contemporary figures, he was well known as a collector of fine books, and possessed a large library containing works relating mainly to the history and antiquities of Great Britain... On 24 June 1718 Bridges was elected a fellow of the reconstituted Society of Antiquaries of London, and he became a vice-president in 1723 and 1724; he was a frequent exhibitor of antiquities at meetings."

2. John Denne (1693-1767), F.S.L.A., Archdeacon of Rochester and antiquary (see ODNB), his signature on title-pages.

3. Faint impression of an unidentified armorial stamp to most covers.

4. Sir Mark Masterman Sykes (1771-1823), of Sledmere, bookplate and shelfmarks, his sale, part two, Evans, 28 May 1824, lot 745.

 “He assembled a fine private library at a time when opportunity was favourable and aristocratic competition keen. The Sykes library was strong in Elizabethan literature and in fifteenth-century editions of the classics, with the Mainz press of Fust and Schöffer and that in Rome of Sweynheym and Pannartz well represented. Sykes's marks of ownership usually add distinction to the provenance record of a rare book... The chief treasure of his library was the vellum copy of the Rome Livy of 1469. Sykes had bought it at the Edwards sale in 1815 for £903; it was sold the year after his death for £472 10s., and three years later at the Dent sale of 1827 fetched only £262 10s. By then the 'bibliomania' which had quickly inflated the market had as rapidly turned to ‘bibliophobia’; the 1469 Livy was acquired by Thomas Grenville (1755–1846), whose library was bequeathed to the British Museum. Sykes belonged to the Roxburghe Club, and presented to his fellow members in 1818 and 1822 well printed editions of two unique Caxton tracts then in York Minster Library... All his collections were dispersed by auction in 1824, Evans disposing of the library in 3700 lots over twenty-five days in May and June, producing almost £18,000.” (ODNB).

5. From the collection of the Greek economist and politician Spyros Loverdos (1874-1936), with bookplates of the Spyros Loverdos Foundation, and their library markings at the rear.

Occasional light foxing or browning.

Renouard 134, 2. Hoffmann III, 171. GLN 2436. Schreiber, Estienne 179 (lacking Index). See also: E.K. Schreiber, Catalogue 37: MOYΣΩN ΔΩPA Greek Language and Literature (2002), no. 109.

Stock Code: 251179