1635 Rare Latin Book - Terence's Comedies - Publii Terentii Comœdiæ Sex: Ex Recensione Heinsiana.
(Description)
Author: Publius Terentius Afer (Terence).
Title: Comœdiæ Sex: Ex Recensione Heinsiana.
Publisher: Lugduni Batavorum [Leiden], Ex Officina Elzeviriana, 1635. First edition, early printing with "Laches," Eunuchus, and Prologus in red on page 51.
Language: Text in Latin.
Size: 5" X 3".
Pages: Dissertation, 304 pages + Index.
Binding: Very good contemporary full vellum, with manuscript title to the spine (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Good content (bright, tight, printed in black and red ink - as shown, some light foxing and staining - as shown, manuscript ex-libris on the first endpaper - as shown).
Illustrations: Complete with the nice illustrated title page.
The book: This edition of Terence's "Comedies," published by the renowned Elzevir press in Leiden, is a fine example of early 17th-century printing and classical scholarship. Daniel Heinsius, who edited this edition, was a leading humanist and one of the most respected classical scholars of his time. Terence's plays, known for their clever plots and rich characterizations, were widely studied during the Renaissance and remain a cornerstone of classical Latin literature. This particular edition is valued not only for its textual importance but also for its association with the Elzevir family, who were among the most famous printers of the Dutch Golden Age.
The author: Publius Terentius Afer, commonly known as Terence (c. 195/185 – c. 159 BC), was a Roman playwright of Berber descent. His six surviving plays are notable for their sophisticated language and the insight they provide into Roman society. They were highly influential in the development of European theater and were studied extensively during the Renaissance.
The illustrator: Cornelius Claesz Duysend was a Dutch engraver known for his detailed and precise work, particularly in the realm of book illustrations. His frontispiece for this edition of Terence is a fine example of his ability to capture the classical spirit of the text through his art.