Description

Title printed in red an black. With woodcut Minerva device on title. 34 unn. leaves, 606 pp., 1 blank. Folio. Modern polished calf. Amsterdam, Louis & Daniel Elzevir, 1662. First edition. Probably the first attempt at a Latin etymological dictionary. The great Dutch (German born) philologist Gerhard Johannes Vossius (1577-1649) does not aim for comprehensiveness, he offers those terms for which he can provide explanations, a.o. words stemming from Greek. His immense knowledge enabled him to undertake the task of sifting through an enormous amount of information and concentrate on what seemed important. - The word "latinum" on p. 1 is printed on a separate piece of paper and pasted over the word "romanum". Stamp with crowned interlaced monogram AM on half title and title, light browning. - Willems 1295; Zaunmüller 254; Brunet V, 1373; Graesse VI/II, 398. PHILOLOGY ;