LIVY

Romane Historie

      1600. FIRST EDITION. LIVY. The Romane Historie Written by T. Livius of Padua. Also, the Breviaries of L. Florus: with a Chronologie to the whole Historie: and the Topographie of Rome in old time. London: Adam Islip, 1600. Thick folio, contemporary full dark brown calf rebacked with remnants of original spine laid down, raised bands, original red morocco spine label; pp. (10), 1403, (41). $12,000. First edition in English of Livy's monumental history of Rome, translated by Philemon Holland. This copy from the collection of 19th-century reform politician Sir Charles Wolseley. Titus Livius began his great history between 27 and 25 B.C., completing it only shortly before his death in 17 A.D. Livy's genius lay in lively storytelling rather than critical history, and his aim in the Romane Historie was to rekindle a spirit of patriotism in his countrymen by recounting the heroic deeds of their ancestors. "Livy's heroes were to revive again and again!in 18th-century Virginia and in Revolutionary Paris. There are still statues in the public parks of the founders of the American and French Republics clad in the togas or the armor of Cincinnatus or Horatius! Livy, not Virgil, gave Rome her epic" (Rexroth, 92-93). "This was the first of that stately array of folio translations of the classics which issued from the pens of the 'translator generall in his age'" (Pforzheimer 495). "Holland's knowledge of Greek and Latin was accurate and profound, and his renderings are made in a vivid, familiar, and somewhat ornamented English" (Drabble, 469). The section on the "Topographie of Rome in old time" is translated from the work of J. Bartholomew Marlian. With woodcut title, initials, head- and tailpieces, woodcut portrait of Livy, and a woodcut of Queen Elizabeth, to whom this edition is dedicated, on verso of title-page. With initials, head- and tailpieces, as well as a woodcut of Queen Elizabeth and Titus Livius. STC 16613. With armorial bookplate of Sir Charles Wolseley. Though Wolseley was the seventh baronet of Wolseley Hall, the original list of members of parliamentary reform from 1812 bears his name, and he served 18 months in jail from 1820-21 on charges of sedition and conspiracy. While in jail he was elected to constitute a committee of Middlesex electors to promote reform, "and his liberation was made the occasion of a great demonstration" (DNB). Early owner signature on title page. Unobtrusive library stamp. Occasional early marginalia. Very light marginal wear and soiling to first few leaves only. Expert rebacking of contemporary calf binding. An excellent copy, with an intriguing political provenance.