Josephus, Flavius

DE ANTQUITATE JUDAICA

      Venice; (March 1481): Reynaldus De Novimagio. (DE ANTQUITATE JUDAICA Dated 1400 But in Fact is 1481) Two works bound into one volume, translated in Latin from the Greek, 350 leaves (10 3/4" X 7 1/2" ), with first, second and last blanks, nice wide margins printed on thick laid paper in 48 lines & headlines in gothic letter, initial spaces blank but some with printed guides. Bound in 18th-century 3/4 vellum over paper covered boards, vellum spine label gilt, all edges speckled red, inner front hinge separated through endpaper but holding well with its heavy rope visible, top edges shaved a bit close going into only a few headlines of the first book, a tiny puncture hole through extreme top corner of first few leaves, last leaf with a closed tear in lower margin not extending into text, a few finger smudges and a couple of early marginal notes in brown ink, a remarkably clean, bright attractive copy with no repairs nor worming. Josephus, a Palestinian Jew was of aristocratic and priestly decent. When the great Jewish Revolt of 66 A.D. broke out, he was appointed to command the rebel forces in Galilee. This work of Josephus is considered the most sustained effort made in antiquity to present Jewish history and to explain Jewish beliefs, customs. An exceptional copy housed in a custom clamshell case.. Small Folio.