1652 Rare Vellum Latin Book - Plautus Plays, Plauti Comoediae Superstites XX

Author: Titus Maccius Plautus.
Title: M. Acci Plavti Comoediae Superstites XX accuratissime editae.
Publisher: Amstelodami (Amsterdam), Typis Ludovici Elzevirii, Sumptibus Societatis, 1652.
Language: Text in Latin.
Size: 5" x 3".
Pages: 715 + (5) pages.
Binding: Very good contemporary full vellum binding, with yapp edges and raised bands (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. A very well-preserved example of 17th-century Elzevir vellum binding.
Content: Good content (tight and clean, rare light foxing or staining - as shown, several early inscriptions on the front pastedown and flyleaf, including ownership marks dated 1797 - as shown, the final leaf shows notable wear: it is torn with loss, chipped at edges, and bears old paper repairs and reinforcement strips, affecting text but preserving most of the closing material - as shown).
Illustrations: Engraved title-page depicting a theatrical scene, finely executed in typical Elzevir style.

Estimate: (USD 250 – 350).

The book: This 1652 Elzevir edition of Plautus contains the twenty surviving comedies (Comoediae Superstites XX) of the celebrated Roman playwright Titus Maccius Plautus. Issued in Amsterdam by Ludovicus Elzevir, one of the most famous Dutch scholarly printers, it belongs to the highly collectible Elzevir classics, prized for their compact format, elegant typography, and enduring historical value. Copies in contemporary vellum are particularly desirable, and the presence of the engraved title-page enhances its appeal.

The author: Titus Maccius Plautus (c. 254–184 BCE) was one of the great dramatists of ancient Rome, whose comedies deeply influenced later Western literature. Drawing on Greek New Comedy, Plautus developed lively plots filled with witty dialogue, stock characters, and farcical situations. His plays such as Amphitruo, Miles Gloriosus, and Menaechmi inspired dramatists from Shakespeare and Molière to the modern stage. His surviving works remain essential to the study of classical theater.

The printer/publisher: Ludovicus Elzevir (1604–1670), member of the celebrated Elzevir printing family of Leiden and Amsterdam, was known for producing compact, scholarly editions of classical texts. Elzevir books are admired for their fine typography, durability, and restrained elegance, making them a cornerstone of 17th-century Dutch printing. The Elzevir editions of classical authors, such as this Plautus, remain highly sought-after by collectors of antiquarian books.