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First Lipsius edition. 8vo., pp. 762, [xxi]. Title-page with woodcut Plantin device, woodcut initals, rear blank Bb8 and final gathering *8 ('Index Alphabeticus in Cornelium Tacitum') both present, two colophons (one dated 1574 and the other 1575). Very faint toning, some small darker patches to title and final leaf near gutters, trimmed a little close to printed marginalia but only just touching a few letters. Much later plain paper-covered boards recently rebacked in brown calf with gilt Morocco title label, edges sprinkled red. Without free endpapers, a few scuffs and marks, corners lightly bumped, still very good. To front paste-down: modern blue ink ownership inscription of D.L. Cumming; printed booklabel (perhaps early 20th century) of William Reynolds of Streatham. 'Tacitus is the outstanding historian and the principal prose writer of the Silver Age of Latin letters… Relatively unknown during the Middle Ages, Tacitus, whose works were first printed in Venice about 1473 and several times reprinted before the end of the century, exercised great influence on Renaissance historians. Justus Lipsius (1547-1606), the Netherlands scholar, knew the whole of Tactitus by heart, and his great edition (here cited), nineteen times reprinted, is one of the monuments of sixteenth century scholarship. In a life much vexed by the violence of governments, he found much, as his notes declare, in common with Tacitus's ironic and cynical records of first-century Rome.' (PMM) Adams T31; BM STC Dutch Books S. 195; Dibdin II, 450; PMM 93; Schweiger II, pt.ii, 999; Voet 2276. Seller Inventory # 54137
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