Johann Georg Graevius | Thesaurus Antiquitatum Romanarum, Leiden, 1694-1699, Charles Burney's copy

Johann Georg Graevius

Thesaurus antiquitatum romanarum. Leiden, 1694-1699

FIRST EDITION, 12 volumes, folio (391 x 241mm.), half-title in vol.1, title-pages in red and black with engraved vignettes, engraved additional titles, 231 engraved plates, maps, and plans, 2 folding tables in vol.2, numerous engraved in-text illustrations, woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces, 1p. manuscript index in an early hand on final blank of vol.12 listing works mentioned in John Gruter's Lampas, sive fax artium liberalium, contemporary calf, sprinkled edges, marginal worming in vols 5, 6, and 7, areas of browning throughout (heavier in vols 1, 8, 10, 11, and 12), vols 1 and 2 rebacked in pale calf , vol.8 rebacked, extremities rubbed, joints starting

Johann Graevius, the German classical scholar, met Gronovius, author of the Thesaurus graecarum antiquitatum, who subsequently recommended Graevius for the chair of rhetoric at Deventer. In 1662 Graevius moved to Utrecht, where he held the chairs of rhetoric and later of history and politics until his death. He was appointed royal historiographer by William III of England. This comprehensive work, like Gronovius's companion work, is a compilation of earlier works by more than 120 contributors. It was reprinted, in quarto, between 1732 and 1737. His Thesaurus antiquitatum et historiarum Italiae was published after his death.

PROVENANCE:

Charles Burney (1757-1817, schoolmaster, book collector, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, son of music historian Dr Charles Burney, and brother of author Fanny Burney): ownership inscription to volumes 1-6

LITERATURE:

Schudt 817; Rossetti 5495 (calling for only 132 plates)