Description

With woodcut printer's mark on title, elaborate woodcut initials, Gryphius's Griffon devise on last page verso. Printed in Italics. (48), 591, (1) pp. 8vo (155 x 110 mm). 18th-century mottled calf, gilt paneled spine, marbled endpapers, red edges (back restored). Venice, Ioannes Gryphius, 1556. Rare edition of "Noctes Atticae", consisting of short chapters on a variety of subjects - philosophy, law, literature, grammar, history, etc. written in the second century. The author (c. 123-c. 165) wrote the book during the winter nights in Attica for the instruction of his children, and indeed the work proved very popular up through the Middle Ages. It is a valuable source for many otherwise lost books, since Gellius quoted extensively from both Greek and Latin authors. - Library pressure-stamps, some waterstaining, light browning, else a nice copy. - EDIT 16 CNCE 20610; not in STC (French); not in Adams. CLASSICS ;