ESTIENNE, Henri (ed.). Conciones sive orationes.
[Geneva], Excudebat Henricus Stephanus, 1570.
£ 2,000
FIRST EDITION. Folio, pp. (xx) 288 (iv) 194, *4 A6 A4 B-V6 X-Y4 Z6 Aa-Bb6 Cc4 a-l6 m4 n-q6 r4. Two parts in one. Roman and Greek letter, a little Italic. Title page with large woodcut printer’s device, woodcut decorative initials, final f. blank. Armorial bookplate of Rowland Clegg Hill (1833-1895) on front pastedown. In early calf binding, skilfully rebacked and repaired. A copy in near excellent state, fresh and clean with nice wide margins, bound in a sumptuous late C17th gilt ruled leather binding with angular fleurons and elaborate oval decoration at centre of covers.
First edition of this digest, which includes examples of speeches from the works of Greek and Roman historians to be used in the instruction of lawyers and politicians, amongst others. Translations of texts are made by the humanists Lorenzo Valla, Francesco Filelfo and Angelo Poliziano, and Estienne himself. Authors include Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon and Tacitus. The Roman historians include also Sallust, Livy, Quintus Curtius, and Ammianus Marcellinus.
Adams C2487 (issue with pp.288: Renouard, Estienne, 133:3; Schreiber 176