Poetae Graeci principes, [Geneva], Estienne, 1566, 2 volumes, later English diced calf

Poetae Graeci principes

Οι της ηροικης ποιησεως πρωτευοντες ποιηται... Poetae Graeci principes heroici carminis, & alii nonnulli. [Geneva]: Henri Estienne, 1566

bound in 2 volumes (divided between the Iliad and the Odyssey), folio (365 x 201mm.), text in Greek, title-page ruled in red with woodcut Estienne device, section title to the Odyssey ruled in red, woodcut initials, without blank leaves cc6, Zzz4 and TTT4, nineteenth-century English diced calf, gilt fillet border, spines gilt in compartments, title-page cut down and mounted, small rusthole in c3, small marginal hole in n4 and LLL5, quires Mm-Nn extended at head and foot (either repaired or supplied from another copy), rebacked retaining most of original spines, edges and corners slightly worn

A monumental volume of classical Greek poetry in epic metre ("heroici carminis"), including the Iliad, the Odyssey, Hesiod, Orpheus, Callimachus, Aratus, Nicander, Dionysius Periegetes, and others.

LITERATURE:

GLN 2327; Schreiber, Estienne 160

PROVENANCE:

John Alfred Spranger, Trinity College Cambridge, armorial bookplate and his Florence ink stamp on *2 and final verso (but not found in the catalogue of his sale, Sotheby's, 21 November 1989); E.P. Jacobsen, printed booklabel