Josephus Flavius

DE ANTIQUITATE JUDAICA. DE BELLO JUDAICO

      Venezia Albertinus Vercelle per Octavianus Scotus 23, Oct. 1499 - A SCARCE and attractive Venetian Josephus, the first work to be printed by Albertinus Vercellensis without his brother Joannes Rubeus. 60 lines and headline in fine Roman type, with many fine woodcut historiated initials, some quite large and a few hand-coloured Chancery Folio (311 x 208 mm.], in 19th century calf-backed boards, the spine with raised bands ruled in gilt and with a gilt device, with central gilt bust in 4 (one obscured) of the compartments and fine morocco labels in the remaining 2 (finely ruled), stippled and lettered in gilt, page edges speckled in light blue. (14 ff), I-CCLX leaves, (1). (being, a8, A-Y8, Z6, AA-KK8). Lacking blank leaf z.6. A handsome and significant copy in uncommonly fresh state, some expected and occasional very light staining primarily in the margins, a few minor paper flaws and two expert small repairs, the upper outside hinge of the binding starting but still quite solid. VERY SCARCE AND A VERY ATTRACTIVELY PRINTED INCUNABLE JOSEPHUS. This attractive Venetian Josephus was the first work to be printed by Albertinus Vercellensis without his brother Joannes Rubeus. Johannes had begun printing alone at Treviso in around 1480, but issued books from Venice beginning about 1482. His first major Venetian undertaking was his first Josephus which appeared in 1486. In April 1489 he appears to have been joined by his brother, who later that year also began printing books under his name alone, beginning with this present work. "Josephus was a learned Jew who lived in the latter half of the first century of our era. At Rome he early made a favorable impression on the imperial government. Returning to Jerusalem, he endeavored to dissuade his countrymen from their intended revolt against Roman authority; but, failing in his efforts, he joined the war party. He was made a general, and was intrusted with the defense of Galilee; but, after a desperate resistance, was betrayed to the Roman commander. Long held as a prisoner, he was present at the siege of Jerusalem. At the close of the war he went to Rome, was presented with the freedom of the city, an annual pension, and a house that had formerly been the residence of an imperial family. The remainder of his life he gave up to literary pursuites" (Adams, Manual of Historical Literature, p. 81). His works cover the entire history of the nation to the fall of Jerusalem. [Attributes: Hard Cover]