HENRI ESTIENNE PRESENTATION BINDING
THEOCRITUS et al.
Theocriti aliorumque poetarum Idyllia. Eiusdem Epigrammata …
[Geneva], Henri Estienne, 1579. [bound with:] [PSALTER.] Psalmorum Davidis … [Geneva], Henri Estienne, 1575.
Two works in one volume, 16mo, Theocritus: pp. [xvi], 447, 63, 128; Psalms: pp. [xxxii], 157, [3]; text printed in parallel Greek and Latin on facing pages, woodcut printer’s device to titles, woodcut headpieces; first title with two minor early skilful repairs touching a few letters, occasional light browning, some inconsequential marginal worming, but a very good copies; bound in contemporary gilt vellum over boards, boards panelled in blind with central gilt arabesque and gilt foliate corner-pieces and lettered ‘STEPH. MOZ.’ at head and ‘H. STEPHANI. DO.’ at foot in gilt (see below), spine gilt in compartments and lettered ‘THEOCRITU. | H. S.’ in gilt, edges speckled red; slightly worn with old repairs to joints and corners; presentation inscription to foot of title ‘Ex dono clariss. viri H. Stephani’, subsequent ownership inscription ‘D. Moezer’ dated 4 May 1634 to front free endpaper; engraved armorial bookplate of Herman de Vries de Heekelingen (1880–1942) to front pastedown (see below).
An outstanding volume uniting the Estienne Greek bucolic poets (Theocritus, Bion, and Moschus) and the Estienne Greek Psalms in an Henri Estienne presentation binding.
This edition of the Greek bucolic poets was important. It was based on the Poetae Graeci Principes of 1566, which Estienne had edited and translated as well as printed, and he introduced not only corrections but also additions: the figure poems of Simmias of Rhodes (‘Egg’, ‘Wings’, ‘Axe’), Estienne’s Propertius 11.12, and his literary examination of Virgil’s and Ovid’s imitations of Theocritus. ‘This tiny edition is the only book which issued from the press of Henri Estienne in 1579: he spent most of the year in Paris, following his trouble with the Geneva Council over the publication of his Deux Dialogues’ (Schreiber).
It is found here with Henri Estienne’s 1575 edition of the Psalms, with Buchanan’s paraphrase (carried out whilst Buchanan was imprisoned for heresy in Portugal) and highly praised by Henri. ‘The best-known work associated with his period of detention was his Latin version of the Psalms which he may have planned earlier as it was a genre which attracted contemporary French writers. Dedicated to Mary, queen of Scots, when published, it is the work which does most to justify Henri Estienne’s description of Buchanan as easily the leading poet of his time. His principal characteristics as a poet may be described as mastery of the Latin language and variety of subject matter’ (ODNB).
Provenance:
1. The two works are bound in a remarkable presentation binding lettered ‘Steph. Moz.’ and ‘H. Stephani. Do.’; a gift from Henri Estienne to Stephan (or Estienne) Moser, who is recorded as a canon of Sion in the Valais from 1562 to 1580 (Martone, Die Domherren von Sitten 1043–2013, no. 599). His heir later inscribed the front free endpaper ‘D. Moezer’ in 1634.
2. Later in the possession of Herman de Vries de Heekelingen (1880–1942), sometime professor of palaeography and diplomatics at the Catholic University of Nijmegen and director of the university library.
I: USTC 450809; Gilmont 2754; Schreiber 206. II: USTC 451120; Gilmont 3253.
