XENOPHON: (Greek:) Xenophontos hapanta. Xenophontis oratoris et historici, propter synceram et melle dulcioremAttici sermonis gratiam, veterum omnium indicio longè clarißimi, opera, quae quidem graecè extant, omnia, duobus tomis distincta, ac nunc primùm à Seb. Castalione àmendis quamplurimis repurgata, et quàm fieri potuit accuratissimè recognita... Basel, M. Isingrin (about 1545-1548). Two volumes.
8°. (8) lvs., 651 (recte : 655) pp. ; 859, (45) pp. With some woodcut initials. Blind-stamped contemporary pigskin over wooden boards ( somewhat thumbed and stained, darkened, edges and corners flattened [lining partly burst open, Volume 1 with two pieces missing], Volume 2 both covers with minor lining fault, also spine in the upper capital ) with three (of four) original brass clasps and hand-written spine label (supposed year of print and Laßberg's shelf mark). Sixth works edition in the Greek original, second in the German language area, extremely rare. Xenophon ( ca. 430- 355 B.C.), a descendant of a rich Attic family, left an extensive oeuvre to posterity. Since the later stages of the ancient world both his historical and his "Memorabiblia" (above all the "Symposium" and the "Apology") have been frequently read (the "Anabasis" describes the campaign of Cyrus the Younger against Artaxerxes and the author's own leading role during the retreat after the battle of Cunaxa, the "Hellenica" describe Greek history from 411 to 362 B.C., as it were in continuation of Thucydides); shorter practical papers deal among other things with domestic science, horse breeding and horsemanship; "Cyropaedia" as a first novel of character development in the history of literature and "Agesi1aos" as a eu1ogy on the Spartan king are of significant importance in cultural history: they portray the picture of an ideal ruler and thus serve as models for later "Fürstenspiegel", i.e. manuals for the proper education of a sovereign. With his "Cyropaedia" the author also becomes one of the most important pioneers of Hellenism. "By illustrating to his Greek readers the ideal of political (perfection) in the person of a Persian king, he makes them realize that this (perfection) is not the sole privilege of the Greek anymore, but that Persians as well can be inspired by the Grecian (spirit)" (R Nickel). "The Constitution of Sparta" is the oldest preserved paper on this topic and serves as a main source for the image of Sparta right up to modern times, "The Constitution of Athens", however, is mock-Xenophon style. The two well-preserved bindings show the same decor: Adjacent to an outer scroll with heads and plants there is a narrow rectangle with floral single stamps, an inner field is embellished by two wreath scrolls. Both front covers are dated ("1564") and initialled "E S K". Provenance: The spine labels and the front end-paper bear J. Laßberg's library seals, the volumes come from the Fürstenberg Library Donaueschingen. Volume 1 on front end-paper with distinct heraldic pen-and-ink drawing and Latin motto, on the front free end-paper a Cicero couplet and a Greek motto (which is repeated on the free end-paper of the second volume), further short old hand-written entries on free end-papers and end-papers. Both volumes throughout very faintly browned and now and then somewhat mildewed or finger-stained; some hand-written marginalia. All in all two very well preserved volumes in a beautiful first binding of an important provenance. VD 16, X 3; BMSTC (German Books) 931; Schweiger I, 335 ("correct u. gut gedruckt"); Hoffmann III, 575/6; Hieronymus / GG 146; NUC 677/151 (only 4 copies). Not in Adams.
Euro5000
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