Josephus, Flavius

Royal folio (399 x 287mm.), 282 leaves (of 288), [a-c¹² d-q¹⁰ r⁸ s-t¹⁰ v⁸; A-G¹⁰ H-I⁸], double column, 50 lines, gothic type, first page with 10-line illuminated initial with leafy decoration (in contemporary South German style) across three margins, start of text with coloured initial down the centre of the page and decoration across the upper margin, 10-line initials in green or blue with red penwork decoration at the start of each book, 2-line initials supplied in red, red paraphs and underlining, modern red calf retaining original Augsburg metalwork (cornerpieces with the date 1465, centrepiece with the date 1464), some deckle edges, early annotations, lacking [A2], [A9], [C5-6], [I7] and initial blank, quire H bound after quire B, some worming (affecting text), [n3] and [A10] torn into text but without loss, occasional light damp-staining

Zabern (Alsace), Franciscan convent (dissolved 1791), early inscription at head of first leaf; Earl of Hopetoun, bookplate (wormed) loosely inserted, Hopetoun House sale, Sotheby's, 25 February 1889, lot 852, £4-6s, to Ridler, described as "oak boards with brass corners, centres and clasps, engraved with Ave Maria"

Goff J481; HC 9451; BMC ii 327; BSB-Ink I-615; Bod-inc J-218; GW M15160; Grosjean and O'Connell 71

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 TALL COPY OF THE EDITIO PRINCEPS. The Greek text was first published much later, in 1544. This is the first book printed by Schüssler, who was the second printer to set up shop in Augsburg.

Flavius Josephus was a Jewish historian of a priestly family, who wrote largely in Greek, although his native language was Aramaic; indeed it was in this language that he wrote his account of the war against the Romans, a war in which he played an active role (before defecting to the Roman side), and which ended in the sack of the Temple in Jerusalem. This work was written after 70AD, and translated into Greek. His work on Jewish history, the Jewish Antiquities, was written in Greek, and in part gives a much fuller account of the events up to 66AD, the year in which he had returned to Judaea after a period in Rome. Both works are extremely important sources for first century Judaism and the history of early Christianity.

The decoration on the first leaf is almost identical in both colour and form to the Truro copy (sold in these rooms, 5 June 2007, lot 13), the Pierpont Morgan copy, and the Doheny copy, indicating that it was most likely carried out in the printer's workshop. The metalwork on the binding is known on other books, including the Doheny copy of this edition, which was from the Wundervogel bindery in Augsburg.

There is a lengthy early annotation at book 18 chapter 9 of the Jewish Antiquities, where Jesus is mentioned, "sapiens vir".