APPIANUS ALEXANDRINUS

De civilibus Romanorum bellis historiaru

      Mainz, Johann Schoffer, 15 August 1529. With rich architectural woodcut title border showing Schoffer's device and monogram "I.S." in lower part, some woodcut floral or figured initials, and large woodcut printer's device at the end. 14 unn. leaves (last blank), 723, (1) pp. 4to. Contemp. richly blind-tooled pigskin over wooden boards, spine on four raised bands, 2 brass clasps (somewhat rubbed). (Mainz, Johann Schoffer, 15 August 1529). First Appian edition printed in Germany. The Roman history was originally written in Greek, when Appian lived in Rome at the times of Hadrianus and Antonius Pius. The work was translated into Latin by the Italian scholar Pier Candido Decembrio (1399-1477) at the request of Pope Niccolo V in 1450; he took more than four years to finish this task. His translation, dedicated to King Alphons II of Naples and Sicily (1448-1495), was first printed in 1472. The present rare Schoffer edition is highly esteemed for its splendid quality of printing; appropriately, the impressum contains an allusion to the invention of the art of printing by Schoffer's predecessor. - Old ownership entry "Ex Bibliotheca Rhumeliana" and other inscription on first paste-down, some old ms. marginal notes or underlinings; quire Q bound before quire P, some slight browning, paper on lower inner hinge split. - VD 16 A 3163; Adams A-1344; STC (German), 38; Index aurel. 106.552; Hoffmann I, 216 ("Schoner, u. fast splendider, Dr. u. Pap. Sehr selten"); Graesse I, 169. HISTORY (KULTURGESCHICHTE) ; CLASSICS ;