A BEAUTIFUL COPY, EXCELLENTLY ILLUSTRATED

LIVIUS, TITUS & LUCIUS FLORUS.

Von Ankunfft unnd Ursprung des Römischen Reichs/ der alten Römer herkommen/ Sitten/ Weissheyt/ Ehrbarkeyt/ löblichem Regiment/ ritterlichen Thaten/ Victori unnd Sig/ gegen ihren Feinden : auch von allerley Händeln und Geschichten/ so sich in Frid und Krieg/ zu Rom/ in Italia/ und bei andern Nationen/ damit die Römer jeder zeit zu thuen gehabt/ fast innerhalb achthundert jaren/ von erbawung der Statt an/ Erstlich unter der Könige/ unnd volgends unter der Rathesmaister Regiment/ biss auff der ersten Römischen Keyser Regierung/ verloffen und zugetragen. Jetzund auff das newe auß dem Latein verteutscht/ und mit ordentlicher verzeychniss der färnemsten Historien/ Jarzehnung/ kurtzer Liuischen Chronica/ Register/ und schönen Figuren geziert/ dessgleichen vor hin im Truck nie aussgegangen.

[n colophon:] Strassburg, Theodosius Rihel, 1594.

Folio. Contemporary full blindstamped pigskin-binding over wooden boards. Five raised bands to spine. Brass clasps to boards. Handwritten title to spine. Richly ornamented blindstamped borders to boards, with portrait of God and Jesus to the centre of front board and Jesus on the cross to back board. Corners and extremities a bit worn, but binding overall in excellent condition. Also internally very well preserved, with light browning to some leaves and a few marginal nicks to title-page, otherwise in very fine condition. Very neat handwritten additions to the "Chronica". Title in red and black within a large woodcut pictorial border, 131 fabulous woodcut illustrations, each measuring 10,8x14,5 cm, one (p. 152) with a small flaw in the paper, stemming from the printing of the work, one (p. 341) with a spot (seems like rust). A beautiful printing, with numerous woodcut initials. 28, 887, (1, blank) pp + 21 pp. of index + 1 p. colophon, with a large woodcut pictorial printer's device.

An excellent copy, in a beautiful, very well preserved contemporary Renaissance binding, of this 1594-reprint of the first Strassburg-edition (1574), printed by Theodor Rihel. The excellent woodcut illustrations, all within an ornamental border, are by T. Stimmer, Bocksberger, et al. The translation is that of Zacharias Müntzer (which appeared for the first time in 1562). The work was extremely popolar, not least due to the rich illustrations, and it went through numerous editions throughout the 17th century also.

Graesse IV:232.

Order-nr.: 47371