Plato

3 volumes in 2, folio (377 x 235mm.), parallel text in Greek and Latin, woodcut printer's device on title-page, woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, a few words censored from dedication to volume 2 (to James VI of Scotland), eighteenth-century red morocco with triple gilt fillet border, spines gilt in compartments, gilt edges, green silk page markers, lacking *2-4 (dedication to Elizabeth I), inscription erased from title-page of volume 1, extremities slightly rubbed, spines slightly faded, scrape on lower cover of volume 2, volume 2 slightly dented at head

Jesuits of Courtrai (or Kortrijk, Belgium; established 1583, library sold in Brussels on 18 May 1778), inscription on title-page; "Cat. V2 P553. MMS. Sledmere", inscription on verso of flyleaf of volume 1, i.e. Sir Mark Masterman Sykes (1771-1823) of Sledmere. His large and impressive library was sold in May & June 1824 by Evans; there was a copy of this edition of Plato sold on 3 June 1824 (lot 800, "with all the dedications"), but as the morocco binding is not mentioned, it is unlikely to have been this copy.

Schreiber 201

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."

For this edition with the Latin translation of Plato by the Protestant Jean de Serres (1540-1598), Henri Estienne introduced a reference system for the text which is still in use today. Estienne sent copies to the dedicatees, Elizabeth I and James VI, as well as other English notables such as Philip Sidney.

There is a manuscript note next to the register noting where the signatures in volume 2 were divided; first part is bound with volume 1 and the second part bound with volume 3.

The bindings are very much in the style of Derôme le jeune; although there is no binder's ticket, one of the tools used on the spine (a continuous line of linked diamonds and ovals) matches that in other Derôme bindings (see De Ricci, French Signed Bindings in the Schiff Collection, 44, 47 and 81, for Derôme bindings using this tool).