The Estienne Sophocles

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.)

ΣΟΦΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ ΑΙ ΕΠΤΑ ΤΡΑΓΟΙΔΙΑΙ. [Works in Greek] Tragoediae Septem. Una cum omnibus Graecis scholiis, & cum Latinis Ioach. Camerarij. Annotationes Henrici Stephani in Sophoclem & Euripidem, seorsum excusae, simul prodeunt.

Geneva: Henri Estienne, 1568.

Price: $8,500.00

Quarto: 24.8 x 16 cm. *4, a-z4, aa-zz4, aaa-kkk4, lll2; A-Z4, Aa-Gg4, Hh2 (includes blanks ggg4 and Hh2).

FIRST ESTIENNE EDITION

FIRST ESTIENNE EDITION. Bound in contemporary English calfskin, ruled in blind and with a small arabesque at the center of each board and fleurs-de-lis at the angles of the central compartments. There is wear to the boards and minor restoration to the upper hinge, as well as a small leather repair to the lower board. The corners are bumped with loss to the leather; rear joint cracked but firm. Internally, this copy is in very good condition with a few minor marginal stains. A worm has made a small trail in the blank, lower margin of the first signature, not affecting the text. With the fine armorial bookplate of George Kenyon of Peel, Esq. (1666-1728) to the front pastedown and an early inscription from Longinus (in Greek with Latin translation) on the free endpaper. A 16th c. inscription has been inked out on the verso of the t.p. A pleasing example of a 16th c. continental book with typical English wear.

“The great Estienne Sophocles, important for the scholia, which include those of Triclinius. The Greek text is followed by the commentary of Joachim Camerarius, and his Latin versions of Ajax and Electra. [Estienne] has again employed his peculiar system of diacritical notations.” (Schreiber) With Estienne’s “Noli altum Sapere” printer’s device on the title page. Each tragedy is introduced by a large woodcut histoirated initial and an attractive headpiece. The Greek text is printed in two sizes of Claude Garamond’s "grecs du roi" type.

Schreiber 171; Renouard 131 n.3; Moeckli 69; Hoffman III, 414; Dibdin vol.2 p.411; Graesse p.440; Brunet vol.4 p311; Schweiger p.290; Adams S-1448