1645 Rare Latin Book - OCTAVIUS by Marcus Minucius Felix & De Idolorum Vanitate by Cyprian.

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Author : Marcus Minucius Felix; Nicolaus Rigaltius; Johan van de Wouwer, of Hamburg; Cyprian, Saint Bishop of Carthage.; Julius Firmicus Maternus.
Title : Marci Minucii Felicis, Causidici Romani OCTAVIUS : Caecilius Cyprianus, de IDOLORUM VANITATE cum observationibus Nicolai Rigaltii, et Julius Firmicus de profana ac vera religione, cum notis Joan. a Wower.
Language : Text in Latin.
Publisher : Lugduni Batav. ex officina Iustii Livii, 1645.
Size : 5.5 " X 3.5 " .
Pages : 102, 11, 73 pages.
Binding : Very good original vellum binding (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed, chips showing old repair marks on spine and back cover - as shown) under a protective mylar cover.
Content : Very good content (bright and tight, rare foxing and staining - as shown).

Estimate: (USD 200 - USD 400)

The book : Scarce edition of Octavius -- an early writing in defense of Christianity by Marcus Minucius Felix. It is written in the form of a dialogue between the pagan Caecilius Natalis and the Christian Octavius Januarius, a provincial lawyer, the friend and fellow-student of the author.The scene is pleasantly and graphically laid on the beach at Ostia on a holiday afternoon, and the discussion is represented as arising out of the homage paid by Caecilius, in passing, to the Cult image of Serapis. His arguments for paganism (possibly modelled on those of Celsus) are taken up one at a time by Octavius, with the result that the assailant is convinced. Minucius himself plays the part of umpire. The form of the dialogue is modelled on the De natura deorum and De divinatione of Cicero and its style is both vigorous and elegant if at times not exempt from something of the affectation of the age.

The author: Marcus Minucius Felix (died c. 250 AD in Rome) was one of the earliest of the Latin apologists for Christianity. He was of Berber origin.Nothing is known of his personal history, and even the date at which he wrote can be only approximately  ascertained as between AD 150 and 270. Jerome's De Viris Illustribus #58 speaks of him as "Romae insignis causidicus" [one of Rome's notable solicitors], but in that he is probably only improving on the expression of Lactantius who speaks of him as "non ignobilis inter causidicos loci" [not unknown among solicitors].