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Appian of Alexandria (fl. c. A.D. 160) ROMANARUM HISTORIARUM [libri] (Ed. Robert & Charles Estienne) [Title in Greek] Paris Charles Estienne 1551

First edition and the Editio Princeps. Woodcut printer's device on title, foliated and grotesque woodcut Greek initials and matching head- and tailpieces and borders for initials. Folio (309x199mm), bound in the antique vellum binding. 393, [1] leaf. A handsome and well preserved copy with some normal aging or age mellowing to the binding and some abrasion or offsetting at the first and second leaves. Inner margin skillfully restored at the initial leaf.

FIRST EDITION, RARE. Editio Princeps of Appian's histories of the various Roman wars from the earliest times to the accession of Vespasian (A.D. 70). The edition was begun by Robert Estienne before his departure from Paris and completed and printed by Charles Estienne.
This volume is generally cited as the supreme example of the use of the Royal Greek types; it is, in fact the first classical text printed in all three sizes of the 'grecs du roi' (first used together the preceding year in the New Testament). 'One of the most exquisite books printed from these fonts...is Charles and Robert Estienne's Greek edition of Appian...All three sizes of type are used in it. The type in mass, and the proportion and imposition of the type-page, are very splendid, and there is another reason for looking at it. The superb decorations and initials by Tory...are wonderful, in their accord with the colour of the Greek text, in their printable qualities and in their grace of design.' [D. B. Updike, Printing Types I, 23-8; Schreiber 126]

$US6500

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