Josephus, Flavius.

Royal folio (400 x 278mm.), 396 leaves (of 397, without blank [g]8), double column, 48 lines plus headline, Gothic letter, woodcut initials and border to [a]1 and [hh]1, woodcut illustration in border of [a]2v, [c]8r and [aa]1r, 4-line woodcut initials, other 4-line initials supplied in red, 15-line woodcut initials, some containing a separately-printed illustration (e.g. that on [b]5 depicting a knight at a writing desk within a large "P", repeated within the initial "H" on [e]1v; other inset woodcuts include a scribe at a desk, a battle scene and the arms of Lübeck), 13-line initial in blue with red penwork decoration on [l]1, headlines in woodcut letters (a few typeset) in many quires, red paraphs and initial-strokes, contemporary manuscript quiring (shaved in a few places), contemporary blind-tooled calf over thick wooden boards, [a]1 frayed with a few wormholes (slightly affecting text and woodcut border), last quire damaged and repaired (mostly in margins), last leaf with a few wormholes in text, covers rubbed, rebacked with new endpapers, lacking all bosses and clasps, a few wormholes in binding

early German ownership inscription in Latin at foot of last leaf; Ampleforth Abbey Library, armorial bookplate, library stamp on flyleaf and blind embossed stamp on [a]1

H 9450; GW M15150; BMC ii 550; Goff J485

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A fine and large copy (several deckle edges survive) of the works of Josephus, in a fifth-century Latin translation by Rufinus Aquileiensis, who also translated authors such as Eusebius (see lot 128). The works of Josephus, written in the late first century in Aramaic and soon translated into Greek, provide a valuable account of the Jewish War of 70AD and of Jewish history generally.

Lucas Brandis had previously worked in Merseburg, and in 1475 he established the first press in Lübeck. Although undated, his edition of Josephus is usually assigned to his first year or so in Lübeck. It is the third edition of Josephus; the first was printed in 1470 in Augsburg.

This edition is rarely available on the market; we have not been able to trace any auction records.