[Rarebooks] FS: Estienne Press' improved 2nd ed. folio of Herodotus w/fine, large woodcut plates. Geneva: 1592

[Kenneth Karmiole]

(ESTIENNE PRESS) Herodotus. [Graece & Latine] HISTORIARUM LIB[RI] IX... Eiusdem Narratio de Vita Homeri... Editio Secunda (Ed. H. Estienne. Translated into Latin by L. Valla). (Geneva): H. Estienne. 1592. Folio (14-1/2" tall). (48),731,(25)pp. Index. With the 4 large folding woodcut plates (see below). Title printed in red & black with Estienne woodcut device. Orig. blind tooled vellum, both covers with large central ornament. Spine with 5 raised bands. Front hinge with cracks, as well as the bottom portion of the rear hinge, but cords are holding well. Some old light water staining at lower and outer margins, mostly quite faded.    $3,500.00 (trade discount allowed)
This is the second Estienne edition of Herodotus, greatly improved. The Valla Latin translation appeared in 1566, and the Greek text in 1570. To quote Schreiber, "In this second edition he joins the two, printing them in parallel columns on the same page, and has corrected the Greek text and thoroughly revised Valla's translation." 
This copy with 5 large woodcut plates. The woodcut of the bridge of Babylon and the Semiramis Citadel -- often found on a single plate -- have been separated (i.e most copies report 4 plates).  All of the plates are in fine condition. They are often found quite ragged or not at all (all 3 copies currently in the marketplace lack the plates). Schreiber also notes, "These plates are often lacking, but form an integral part of the book, since they are called for in the title." See Renouard 155 #3; Schreiber #222; Adams H-398.

Kenneth Karmiole, Bookseller, Inc.
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