THÉOGNIS DE MÉGARÉE Lot n° 12

[In Greek and Latin]: Theognidis, Phocylidis, Pythagorae, Solonis, aliorumque Veterum poëmata gnomica. No place or date [Geneva, Jean Crespin, 1569]. In-16, 267 pp. and 2 ff.n.ch.: red morocco, emblem (small sheep) of the Golden Fleece gilded at the corners and in the centre, spine decorated, nerves underlined by a thin roulette, same emblem repeated in the inter-nerves, lining of olive green morocco, small gilded lace inside, repetition of the emblem in the centre, gilt edges on marbling (binding c. 1700). Beautiful bilingual edition of Greek poets divided into four parts, published by the Bordeaux humanist Élie Vinet (1509-1587). The volume presented here constitutes the fourth and last part of the collection, and contains the gnomic works of Theognis of Megaea, Phocylides, Pythagoras and Solon followed by plays by some comic poets. The first part of the series contains the writings of Hesiod, and the next two contain the bucolic poets. A copy in red morocco lined with olive-green morocco, bound for the Baron de Longepierre (1659-1721), by Boyet. The binding bears in several places, repeated, the golden emblem of this illustrious Hellenist and bibliophile of the seventeenth century: a small sheep of the Golden Fleece. Saint Simon describes this translator of Anacreon as a "strange intriguer of many minds", well versed in Greek "whose mores he also had all the mores". From the library of the Dukes of Devonshire in Chatsworth, with a storage label. Skillfully restored in the binding. (Gilmont, Crespin I, nº 69/5 - Desgraves, Élie Vinet, nº 190 - Not in the Longepierre library catalogue drawn up by Baron Portalis).