[Rarebooks] FS: 1st Edition of Origen's defense of Christianity, Rome, 1481.

[karmbooks at aol.com]

(INCUNABULA) Origenes. CONTRA CELSUM ET IN FIDEI CHRISTIANAE DEFENSIONEM LIBRI. Rome: Georgius Herolt. January, 1481. Folio. ff.(264), complete. Capital spaces at the beginnings of books, un-rubricated. Quire (d) misbound after quire (a). Contemporary vellum, lettered along spine, vellum somewhat soiled. Backstrip repaired. Occasional text foxing, but overall a very nice tall copy, with wide margins. Bookplate of J. R. Ritman (Bibliotheca Hermetica). Housed in a morocco backed clamshell box. OFFERED WITH: [the English translation] THE WRITINGS OF ORIGEN. Translated by Frederick Crombie. 1869-1872. 2 volumes. Part of the "Ante-Nicene Christian Library," Volumes X & XXIII. ORIGEN AGAINST CELSUS begins on p. 391 of Vol. X, and is completed by the entire text of Vol. XXIII (with an index).	$25,000.00 (trade discount allowed)
First edition of this celebrated treatise.  The translation into Latin by Christophorus Persona.  It is one of the earliest Apologetics of Christianity, written in the middle of the third century by Church Father, Origen of Alexandria (ca. 185-253). The eight books of "Against Celsus" are a defense of Christianity in response to the writings of the 2nd century Greek philosopher Celsus, who defended ancient pagan religions and strongly opposed Christianity. One of only two dated productions of Herolt's Press, out of a total of 4 printed books. This copy is the only complete copy in a contemporary binding sold in the past 3 decades. Goff O-95; BMC IV, 126; HC (+ Add) 12078; ISTC io00095000. Dibdin. GREEK & LATIN CLASSICS, Volume 1, p. 189.


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