[Rarebooks] FS - Robert Estienne's defense 1552

[GREENFIELD BOOKS]

*ESTIENNE, Robert [also known as Roberto Stephano, Roberti Stephani, 
Robertus Stephanus, Robert Stephens]. /AD CENSURAS THEOLOGORUM 
PARISIENSIUM quibus Biblia a? Roberto Stephano excusa calumniose? 
nota?runt, ejusdem Roberti Stephani responsio./* Bound in period leather 
blocked in blind with three raised bands. Printed by Robert Estienne, 
Geneva, Switzerland. 1552. 1st edition, 8vo, pp. 255. The device of 
Robert Estienne is shown on the title page. A portion of a page of a 
hand-written manuscript (apparently in Italian) affixed to inside front 
board as a backer; lacks front blank paste down.

Robert Estienne was born in Paris in 1503, and died in Geneva in 1559. 
His name in Latin was Robertus Stephanus, although it has sometimes 
appeared with the spelling of Roberto Stephano or Roberti Stephani. He 
was the second son of the famous humanist printer Henri Estienne. (There 
is an interesting write-up of the Estienne family in Kunitz & Colby, 
/European Authors 1000-1900/.) Robert adopted as his device an olive 
branch, or tree, with a man standing underneath, and with branches 
falling to the ground. His motto was "Noli altum spere, sed time", or 
"be not high-minded, but fear".

In 1539, the King of France granted him the honourific title of "Printer 
in Greek to the King". During his life, Estienne published numerous 
grammatical works of authors such as Cicero, Julius Caesar, Justin, 
Socrates, Scolasticus and others. Many of these, especially the Greek 
language editions (which were printed with typefaces designed by 
Garamond) were famous for their typographical elegance. He also 
published several editions of the Hebrew Bible, four editions of the 
Greek New Testament, and various editions of the Vulgate. These latter 
editions drew sharp criticism from the Paris clergy and theologians, 
which in 1550 became so unbearable that he relocated to Geneva where he 
published his defense (/Ad Censuras Theologorum Parisiesium/) against 
his critics. See Antoine Auguste Renouard, /Annales de L'Imprimerie des 
Estienne./

It is a particularly scarce title. None are currently being offered for 
sale. Only one copy has come to auction in the last 40 years, the 
catalog description of which follows (Bloomsbury's, 2007):

    RARE FIRST EDITION of Robert Estienne's response to the theologians 
of the Sorbonne, who had accused him of publishing heretical texts and 
notes in the         editions of the Bible that he published from 1528 
to 1545, which prompted his flight in 1551 from Paris to Protestant 
Geneva. "No sooner had he settled there         than he began drafting 
this response to the attacks, listing one by one the censures of the 
Parisian theologians concerning his biblical publications, and meeting 
        them point by point... The Responsio is a very rare book, and in 
many ways, Robert Estienne's single most important piece of writing" 
(Schreiber). Its literary         qualities have attracted most 
scholarly attention, but the book is also an important document for the 
history of printing: in the preface Estienne reviews his earlier     
career as a printer and records the honors paid him by his protector 
François I. Estienne published a French translation soon after this 
original Latin edition.             Nearly 300 years later Estienne's 
bibliographer A.-A. Renouard voiced his passionate indignation at the 
unjust persecutions suffered by the great classical and         biblical 
scholar- printer.

The front board of our copy has become detached (but it is present), and 
the front free blank is absent; otherwise, the text is complete. There 
is some marginal staining and a few page edges have small closed tears. 
The last blank page and the rear board have a small old worm hole. Early 
library markings to verso of title page.

Images are available.

Price: $3,500

Terms of sale - the price is in USD, and includes packing, postage, and 
insurance anywhere in the world. Payment may be made by check, credit 
card, or as arranged. Known institutions may be billed. Returnable 
within seven days of receipt if not as described.

 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greenfield Books Ltd.				
Rare books sought, bought and sold		
Member: ABAC/ILAB				
217 Academy Road,				
Winnipeg, MB R3M 0E3 Canada			
Toll-free: 866-263-BOOK (2665)			
Telephone: 204-488-2023
Web site: http://www.greenfieldbooks.com