EURIPIDES. Tragoediae octodecim. Frankfurt, (P. Braubach, c. 1558).
8vo. 1137 (recte: 1135) pp. (lacking 33 unnumb. leaves = lacking "Elektra"). With 6 title-borders. Contemporary blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards from a Saxonian workshop (browned, stained, lacking clasps). Schweiger I, 115; Hoffmann II, 67/68; VD 16, E 4216 (kein Ex. in BSB); Adams E 1034; BMSTC (German Books) 289. Fifth work edition in the Greek original, already described as very rare by Hoffmann and Schweiger. Hoffmann names two different issues of this edition, mainly distinguished by the fact whether the 'I Elektra" is, or is not, mentioned in the main title. The reception tradition of Euripides interpretation shows numerous different focal points; above all it is his "modernity" that ensured his survival in European literature: Man no longer takes a sensible world for granted, but may become a toy for the gods and at their mercy; divine behaviour can be criticized as well as human behaviour ,as both are found to be driven by the identical desire to maintain their prestige. This secularization is accompanied by an emphasis on human emotions bordering on the extreme. "Whereas .... Sophokles always deals with a character as a whole, Euripides sometimes tends to exploit the emotion of an individual person in a certain scene to its last detail"(J. Burckhardt); this revaluation of a single element has also been noted in the structure of his plays. In addition, it is his rational and sophistic approach to many problem situations which explains his position as the "most modem" of the three great tragedians of ancient Greece, and in this faculty he remained a stimulator and catalyst for future men of letters. The binding is dated on the front cover ("1558") and bears an owner's initials ("AMB"), apart from floral single stamps it shows a roll-stamp of virtues (Fides with Superbia, Charitas with Justitia, Spes with Prudentia). This roll is also dated (1551) and bears the signature ("CG"= probably Caspar Henseler / see Haebler). Instead of "Electra" several blank leaves are bound in. New endpapers, lacking front fly-leaf. Browned throughout, some staining, wormholes (loss of some letters). The final blank leaves with paper defects. In places old marginalia.
Euro2100
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