Thucydides. De Bello Peloponesiaco libri VIII

Thucydides. De Bello Peloponesiaco libri VIII., translated by Laurentius Valla, collation: ¶6 ¶¶4 a-z aa-zz aaa-nnn6, parallel Latin and Greek text, footnotes in Greek, woodcut printer's device to title, woodcut head-pieces and decorative initials, title little creased, worm trace diminishing to small holes to pp.500-600, mostly marginal, but occasionally touching the odd letter, light marginal water-staining towards end, occasional spotting, some light browning, 18th century blind-stamped vellum, spine in compartments and titled in ink, very small hole to one compartment, a few ink spots, soiled, folio (328 x 210), [Geneva], Henri Estienne, 1588.

⁂ A very good copy of the handsomely printed second Estienne edition, which is 'generally considered the best 16th-century edition of the greatest historian of Athens. For this new edition Estienne has corrected the Greek text and scholia, as well as further revised Valla's Latin translation, which is now printed on the same page with the Greek text in parallel columns, while the Greek scholia are printed at the foot of the page.' (Schreiber).

Provenance: 'Empt. July. 1725' (ink note to front free endpaper); James Erskine of Alva (engraved armorial bookplate); 'W. Moule, at Mrs. Lawrie's, 1 Mound Place'; H.W. Moule (inscriptions to front pastedown)

Literature: Adams T667; Renouard, Estienne, 152:4; Schreiber 216; PMM 102.