THE WORKS OF VIRGIL: Containing His PASTORALS , GEORGICS, AND ÆNEIS. Translated into English Verse; By Mr. Dryden. Adorn'd with a Hundred Sculptures
by Virgil (Vergilius Maro, Publius) (70-19 B.C.); Dryden, John (1631-1700)
- Used
- Fine
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Fine
- Seller
-
Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, 1697. FIRST EDITION. Hardcover. Fine. An exceptional, and exceptionally large, "large paper" copy. This copy is complete with the engraved frontispiece, the extra plate depicting Vergil reading the Aeneid to Augustus, and all 101 of the magnificent engraved plates by W. Hollar called for in this edition: ten in the Bucolics, twenty in the Georgics, and seventy-one in the Aeneid.
Bound in 17th-century paneled calf, very nicely rebacked in the 18th-century. The spine is separated into eight compartments, ruled and tooled in gold, by raised bands. There are two spine labels, one in red and one in green morocco, tooled in gold. The boards are framed by a single gold fillet.
Internally, this copy is in superb condition with very little of the browning associated with this edition. The great majority of leaves are crisp, lily-white and wide margined. In fact, this is the largest, and cleanest copy that we have had the pleasure to handle. There are a few incidental marginal tears, only one of which -now mended- enters an engraving (opposite p. 261.) The final leaf is ink-stained. "Dryden's 'translation of Vergil'" says Pope, (whose own translation of Homer was inspired by Dryden's work) "is the most noble and spirited translation I know in any language." (Thomas) "The book was published by subscription, a system of joint-stock patronage now coming into vogue. [...] Dryden's correspondence with [his publisher] Tonson showed a good many bickerings during the publication. One cause of quarrel was Tonson's desire that the book should be dedicated to William III. Dryden honourably refused; but Tonson had the engravings adapted for the purpose by giving to Aeneas the hooked nose of William (Dryden, Letter to his son, 3 Sept. 1697)." (DNB)
"Shakespeare probably knew at least the earlier books of the 'Aeneid' in Latin, while Milton's 'Paradise Lost' attempts to provide an English equivalent not only for Vergil's epic themes but even for his syntax, diction, and as far as possible, meter. But in Britain he was also particularly well-served by translations. In the seventeenth-century the epic was translated by Dryden." (Gian Biagio Conte's "Latin Literature, A History").
Bound in 17th-century paneled calf, very nicely rebacked in the 18th-century. The spine is separated into eight compartments, ruled and tooled in gold, by raised bands. There are two spine labels, one in red and one in green morocco, tooled in gold. The boards are framed by a single gold fillet.
Internally, this copy is in superb condition with very little of the browning associated with this edition. The great majority of leaves are crisp, lily-white and wide margined. In fact, this is the largest, and cleanest copy that we have had the pleasure to handle. There are a few incidental marginal tears, only one of which -now mended- enters an engraving (opposite p. 261.) The final leaf is ink-stained. "Dryden's 'translation of Vergil'" says Pope, (whose own translation of Homer was inspired by Dryden's work) "is the most noble and spirited translation I know in any language." (Thomas) "The book was published by subscription, a system of joint-stock patronage now coming into vogue. [...] Dryden's correspondence with [his publisher] Tonson showed a good many bickerings during the publication. One cause of quarrel was Tonson's desire that the book should be dedicated to William III. Dryden honourably refused; but Tonson had the engravings adapted for the purpose by giving to Aeneas the hooked nose of William (Dryden, Letter to his son, 3 Sept. 1697)." (DNB)
"Shakespeare probably knew at least the earlier books of the 'Aeneid' in Latin, while Milton's 'Paradise Lost' attempts to provide an English equivalent not only for Vergil's epic themes but even for his syntax, diction, and as far as possible, meter. But in Britain he was also particularly well-served by translations. In the seventeenth-century the epic was translated by Dryden." (Gian Biagio Conte's "Latin Literature, A History").
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Details
- Bookseller
- Liber Antiquus (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 3017
- Title
- THE WORKS OF VIRGIL: Containing His PASTORALS , GEORGICS, AND ÆNEIS. Translated into English Verse; By Mr. Dryden. Adorn'd with a Hundred Sculptures
- Author
- Virgil (Vergilius Maro, Publius) (70-19 B.C.); Dryden, John (1631-1700)
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- FIRST EDITION
- Publisher
- Printed for Jacob Tonson
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1697
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
Terms of Sale
Liber Antiquus
Returns accepted within 7 days of receipt. All returns must be packed, insured, and shipped as they were sent. All returns must arrive safely and in the condition in which they were sent before a refund will be issued.
About the Seller
Liber Antiquus
Biblio member since 2020
Chevy Chase, Maryland
About Liber Antiquus
Liber Antiquus sells early printed books (15th to 18th century) and early manuscripts in a number of fields. We have been in business for 22 years and are a member of ABAA and ILAB.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Leaves
- Very generally, "leaves" refers to the pages of a book, as in the common phrase, "loose-leaf pages." A leaf is a single sheet...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Plate
- Full page illustration or photograph. Plates are printed separately from the text of the book, and bound in at production. I.e.,...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Rebacked
- having had the material covering the spine replaced. ...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Crisp
- A term often used to indicate a book's new-like condition. Indicates that the hinges are not loosened. A book described as crisp...
- Raised Band(s)
- Raised bands refer to the ridges that protrude slightly from the spine on leather bound books. The bands are created in the...
- Calf
- Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...