AN IDYLLIC BEGINNING
THEOCRITUS, BION, MOSCHUS, SIMMIAS of Rhodes.
Θεοκριτου … Ειδυλλια και Επιγραμματα. Μοσχου … Βιωνος … Σιμμιου τα σωζομενα. Theocriti Syracusii idyllia & epigrammata … Moschi, Bionis, Simmii opera qua exstant, Josephi Scaligeri & Isaaci Casauboni emendationes seorsim dabuntur. [issued and bound with:] SCALIGER, Joseph, and Isaac CASAUBON. Emendationes ad Theocriti, Moschi & Bionis Idyllia … Theocriticarum lectionum libellus.
[Heidelberg], Commelin, 1596.
Three parts in one volume, 8vo, pp. [xvi], 319 (313–319 misbound before 305–312); 30; 150; allegorical woodcut vignettes to both titles, main text in Greek with facing Latin translation, including the characteristic pattern poems; a few quires a little browned, occasional light staining, but withal very good; bound in contemporary vellum, flat spine ruled in ink, manuscript title to spine, edges sprinkled in red and brown patterns; vestigial ties, some light staining, evidence of old paper label to spine; early brown ink shelfmark to front paste-down, old round stamp of the library of the seminary of Caen to first and last page, stamped and penned inventory number at head of title.
Added to your basket:
Θεοκριτου … Ειδυλλια και Επιγραμματα. Μοσχου … Βιωνος … Σιμμιου τα σωζομενα. Theocriti Syracusii idyllia & epigrammata … Moschi, Bionis, Simmii opera qua exstant, Josephi Scaligeri & Isaaci Casauboni emendationes seorsim dabuntur. [issued and bound with:] SCALIGER, Joseph, and Isaac CASAUBON. Emendationes ad Theocriti, Moschi & Bionis Idyllia … Theocriticarum lectionum libellus.
First edition of the Greek Idylls published by Commelin, and first edition of Joseph Justus Scaliger’s commentary and notes, complemented with Isaac Casaubon’s notes, a form of which had first appeared in Geneva in 1569.
Born in Douai, Commelin fled anti-Protestant persecution, and established a printing workshop in Geneva. In 1587 the Elector Palatine invited him to settle in Heidelberg, to take up the role of librarian – he would die there in 1598. As a typographer, he distinguished himself in the editing of Greek and Latin authors (John Chrysostom, Athanasius, Apollodorus, Eunapius, Heliodorus), and his workshop published eight titles by Julius Caesar Scaliger, on grammar and poetics. Commelin’s main corrector in Heidelberg was the famous philologist Friedrich Sylburg (1536–1596), also director of the editions of Greek and Latin authors at Wechel’s press in Frankfurt.
USTC 696735; VD16 ZV 14910.
