Lot 203
Sallust, Crispus Caius.
Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs | 09 May 2007
Description
De Conjuratione Catilinae Hiistoria. Ejusdem De Bello Jugurthino. Paris: Robert Estienne, 1544, 8vo., pp. 208, (xxxii). Italic letter. Estienne's Noli Altum Sapere device on title, contemporary calf gilt, spine with four raised bands ruled in gilt, covers tooled in gilt to a panel design with block stamped corner and centre pieces, all edges gilt and gauffered in an interlacing design neatly rebacked and corners restored, 19th century inscription ex libris of John Ker on fly, light waterstaining to outer margin throughout
Footnote
Note: BM STC Sixteenth Century Books p.392; Brunet V 85; Graesse VI 238; Adams S 155; Renouard, p.60: 14.
Printed in Robert Estienne's italic type, cut for him by Garamond in imitation of the Aldine and reserved for his editions of classic authors, Sallust's political thoughts reflect an essentially Roman moralistic outlook, pessimistic towards the decadence and corruption of the Roman nobility. In choosing Catiline and Jugurtha as subjects he was influenced by the dramatic and dangerous nature of their deeds. The work also includes a number of extracts from Sallust's Histories, of which only fragments have survived.
The binding has strikingly similar corner pieces to one executed for Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester, c. 1580, recorded in the Henry Davis Gift collection vol II, no. 43 and illustrated on page 75.