Search Results: Classical and Medieval Literature from Robert McDowell Antiquarian Books

Leiden: Samuelem Luchtmans, 1724. Hardcover. See Description. Second and best Burmann edition. 4to. pp. [154], 760, [96]. With engraved frontispiece depicting the Argonauts. Title is printed in red and black with vignette medallion depicting an ancient rowing ship. Very faint library stamp in outer margin of title and on p. 101. Bound in attractive modern half calf with marbled boards and end papers. Original spine label is preserved. Interior is generally clean with periodic mild scattered foxing; occasional small tears are neatly sealed; some staining present on the bottom outer marginal corner of some leaves. Gaius Valerius Flaccus was a first century c.e. Roman poet. His surviving epic verse work, the "Argonauticon," describes the quest of Jason and the Argonauts for the legendary Golden Fleece. The work exists in eight books but was left incomplete by the author. This edition of the "Argonauticon" was edited by Pieter Burmann (1668-1741) a professor of History and Eloquence… Read More

Glasgow: Robert Foulis, 1748. First Edition. . Hardcover. See Description. 8vo in 4’s. pp. [8], 362. Copper engraved vignette (medallion portrait) on title page as well as on p. 72 [Ii verso] and on p. 304 [Pp verso]. Bound in 19th century straight grain green morocco. The gilt crest and initials of Rev. Theodore Williams are stamped in gilt on the front cover. His coat of arms is also stamped in gilt on the rear cover. All edges are gilt. A penciled note on the inside end-leaf attributes the binding to J. Clark. Armorial bookplate of William Proby K.P. 5th Earl of Carysfort (1836-1909) by artist Charles W. Sherborn on inside front cover – " Earl of Carysfort Elton Hall 1894." Color along hinges neatly touched up; some discoloration on the boards near the spine. Interior is generally clean with minor spots of foxing; some extremely faint damp staining is present on lower inner margins. Printed on good quality paper. James Geddes (1710-1749) Scottish lawyer / advocate who also… Read More

Leiden: Jean Elsevier [ Elzevir ], 1658. Hardcover. See Description. Small 12mo. pp. 417, [1]. With extra engraved title page. Bound in period full red morocco. Spine is gilt in compartments; boards are richly gilt with floral borders. The binding is well preserved with only minor spots of wear. All edges of the book block are gilt. The extra engraved title is tightly trimmed with no outer margin. Interior pages contain occasional mild marginal spotting but are otherwise generally clean. Lucan’s epic poem "Pharsalia" (written during the reign of Nero) concerns the Roman Civil War between Julius Caesar and Pompey. In 48 b.c.e the conflict came to a conclusion with Pompey’s defeat on the Thessalian plains of Pharsalus. The poem then extends down to the capture of Egyptian Alexandria. Lucan’s epic is also noted for containing many elements of the supernatural, including turgid scenes of magic and witchcraft. Translated from the Latin into French verse by the French poet and… Read More

Paris: J.B. Fournier, P.N.F. Didot, 1799. Hardcover. See Description. Tall 8vo. 5 vols. This copy dated "an septieme [1799]." Vol. I. pp. 435, [1 blank] Vol. II. pp. 410, [2 blank] Vol. III. pp. [4], 365, [2 blank] Vol. IV. pp. [4], 352 Vol. V. pp. [6], 352. Volumes I-III contain frontispiece engravings. Volume I contains an additional engraving opposite p. 74. Bound in period straight grained morocco binding – blind stamped and gilt. All edges gilt. Corners a bit bumped; minor wear to extremities; tiny chip to head cap of vol. I. Initial and final blank leaves foxed. The interiors are generally clean with only mild scattered foxing – a bit heavier in volume I. Small inscription on verso of fly-leaf in first volume. This edition is based on Lenglet Dufresnoy’s 1735 edition. The "Roman de la Rose" was one of the most important Medieval French poems. The work is divided into two sections. The first, written by Guillaume de Lorris in the early to mid 13th century, is… Read More

London: Longman. Brown, Green, & Longmans, 1847. First Edition. . Hardcover. See Description. 2 volumes. Vol. I. pp. viii, xxxviii, [2], 391, [1]. Vol. II. pp. [4], vii, [1], xxii, [2], 447, [1]. Frontispiece in each volume. Wood engravings by F.W. Fairholt. Green cloth with gilt front cover image of Medieval knights. Some shelf wear and rubbing. Hinges and corner tips carefully repaired. Inner joints strengthened. Name and date (1858) written in an old hand on front fly leaf of each volume. Some foxing to frontispieces and title pages. Occasional mild marginal soiling on several pages. Otherwise a generally clean copy. An excellent source book of Robin Hood lore. Volume I contains J.M. Gutch's biography of Robin Hood; a printing of the Middle English ballad "The Lytell Geste of Robin Hode" accompanied by a modern English version; W. Hone's "Dissertation upon the Morris Dance and Maid Marian", taken from his "Year Book"; Francis Douce's "A… Read More

Paris: J. Barbou, 1762. Hardcover. See Description. 12mo. 3 vols. Vol. I. pp. [4], xii, 328 Vol. II. pp. [4], 376, [8] Vol. III. pp. 396. Contemporary marbled calf with flat spines gilt in five compartments including morocco labels. All edges gilt. 3 engraved frontispieces and 3 vignettes by Eisen. Spines re-capped. Small amount of hinge and corner restoration. Printed on fine crisp Holland paper. Name in old hand written in upper corner of front blank. Bookplate on inside front cover. A good example of publisher Jean Joseph Barbou's series of classics. Barbou's classics were designed in both their correctness and in their beauty to supplant the 17th century Elzevir publications. [Schweiger II, p.632; Brunet IV, 273; Graesse V, p.71; Cohen-De Ricci, 774; Lewine, 397].

New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1921. Hardcover. See Description. 8vo. (205 mm), pp. v, [1], 5-262. With 4 color plates including the frontispiece. Bound in blue publisher's cloth. No dust jacket. Front cover contains an illustrated paper on-lay framed by a gilt floral design. Binding shows minor rubbing to the extremities. The front cover illustration displays a couple small spots of wear/abrasion. The top edge of the book block is gilt. End papers are lightly toned. Some spotted staining or foxing is present to the lower margins of pp. 44-50. Minor outer edge wear is visible on several leaves. A couple sets of leaves are unopened.

Basilae: Per Ioanem Oporinum [ 1558 ], 1558. Hardcover. See Description. 8vo. pp. 499, [13]. Bound in later full red morocco with gilt border fillets on front and rear covers. All edges of the book block are gilt. The binding contains areas of rubbing and wear; minor careful restoration is present to the head cap of the spine and to the corner tips of the boards. The upper corner tip of the front blank fly leaf is restored. Interior pages show some light age-toning and scattered mild foxing but are generally clean. This is a Latin translation from the Greek of the seven tragedies of Sophocles - Ajax Flagellifer, Electra, Oedipus Tyrannus, Antigone, Oedipus Coloneus, Trachiniae, Philoctetes. The translation and notes are by Thomas Kirchmeyer (Naogeorgus) 1508-1563, was an influential dramatist, humanist and Lutheran theologian. The preliminaries include a dedication to Johannes Jacob Fugger and also contain short verses by the educator Johannes Sturm, the Latin poet and theologian Johann Seckervitz… Read More

Oxford: E Theatro Sheldoniano. Impensis Jacobi Fletcher, Bibliopol. Oxon. Et J. Rivington & J. Fletcher, London, 1759. Hardcover. See Description. Third Oxford Edition. 8vo. pp. [16], 401, [31]. With frontispiece of Socrates. Title page is printed in red and black. Greek text with the Latin version of J. Leunclavis. Pages are clean and crisp with occasional faint spots of marginal foxing. Inscription written in a miniscule old hand on verso of front free end paper. Period fine binding in full deep red morocco - smooth spine gilt in five compartments with a fer à l' oiseau center stamp and arabesque corner pieces. Front and rear covers framed with a simple triple line gilt fillet border. The interior contains inner dentelles and blue paste-paper end sheets. Tiffany bookplate of Michigan business man and avid book collector Albert May Todd (known as "the Peppermint King") on the inside front cover. The binding is in an excellent state of preservation with some rubbing on the… Read More