"The Inventor Of Satirical Dialogue"
Part of Lucian Made English From the Originall. In the Year 1638. By Jasper Mayne the Master of Arts, and one of the Students of Christ Church. To Which are adjoyned those other Dialogues of Lucian as they were formerly translated by Mr. Francis Hicks.
Oxford: Printed by H. Hall for R. Davis, 1664.
[Bound together with]
LUCIAN. Certain Select Dialogues of Lucian: Together With His True History, Translated from the Greek into English By Mr. Francis Hickes. Whereunto is added the life of Lucian, Gathered out of his own Writings, with brief Notes and Illustrations upon each Dialogue and Book, by T.H. Mr. of Arts of Christ Church in Oxford. Oxford: Printed for Richard Davis, 1663.
First English editions, second issue of volume I. Two folio volumes in one (10 7/8 x 7 1/8 inches; 276 x 181 mm). [16], 398, [17], [1, blank], 200 pp. With engraved frontispiece of Lucian signed W. Faithhorne. According to the ESTC, this version with the 1664 date on the title-page of volume I, " Appears to be a reissue of the 1663 edition." In the first issue, the title-page is dated 1663 and there is no engraving of the author.
Full contemporary calf rebacked to style. Brown morocco spine label, lettered in gilt. Edges dyed green. With newer endpapers. Edges and corners of boards chipped and boards rubbed. Corner marginal paper flaw to leaves F, L , not affecting text. Small hole on page number of leaf M3. A 3 3/4 inch closed tear to leaf P. Occasional old ink markings from a previous owner. Some foxing throughout. Over all a very good copy of this rare item.
"Lucian was the most brilliant wit of Greek letters under the Roman empire. A free thinker, he was often referred to in his own time as a blasphemer and was later compared with Swift and Voltaire. He wrote rhetorical, critical, and biographical works, romances, dialogues, poems, and other works...He is regarded as the inventor of satirical dialogue." (Benét's Reader's Encyclopedia, 619).
ESTC R23081. Wing L3435
HBS 64587.
$2,000.
Price: $2,000.00
Item #64587