Virgil | The Whole XII bookes of the Aeneidos, 1573, nineteenth-century speckled calf by Rivière and Sons

Virgil

The whole XII bookes of the Aeneidos... added moreover to this edition Virgils life out of Donatus, and the Argument before every booke. London: Wyllyam How for Abraham Veale, 1573

Small 4to (176 x 133 mm), gothic type, title-page within a frame of printer's ornaments, nineteenth-century speckled calf by Rivière and Sons, housed in modern green calf box, title-page expertly restored, some margins slightly shaved

THE FIRST PRINTING OF PHAER'S TRANSLATION TO CONTAIN ALL TWELVE BOOKS (the first translation had only contained the first nine), and the first complete edition in modern English. The 1553 Douglas translation was in Scots dialect (for which see lot **). Very rare at auction.

PROVENANCE:

"Jo. Da.": contemporary ownership inscription at foot of final text leaf; "To Janet, with love & best wishes from Reginald Cooper. 1935.": pasted-in presentation note to front pastedown

LITERATURE:

STC 24801; ESTC S119243; Pforzheimer 1028