< Back

Beautifully bound by J. Clarke for the English collector Thomas Williams

[ALSOP, Anthony].
Fabularum Aesopicarum delectus.

With fine engraved frontispiece by M. Burg, engraved view of the Sheldonian Theatre on title, and large engraved armorial headpiece to the dedication.

With fine engraved frontispiece by M. Burg, engraved view of the Sheldonian Theatre on title, and large engraved armorial headpiece to the dedication.

With fine engraved frontispiece by M. Burg, engraved view of the Sheldonian Theatre on title, and large engraved armorial headpiece to the dedication.

With fine engraved frontispiece by M. Burg, engraved view of the Sheldonian Theatre on title, and large engraved armorial headpiece to the dedication.

With fine engraved frontispiece by M. Burg, engraved view of the Sheldonian Theatre on title, and large engraved armorial headpiece to the dedication.



Oxoniae (Oxford), E Theatro Sheldoniano Johan Croke, 1698. Early 19th century green morocco, spine ribbed and gilt, with gilt monogram of Thomas Williams in centre on front cover and his coat of arms in centre on back cover, richly gilt inside doublure, g.e. With fine engraved frontispiece by M. Burg, engraved view of the Sheldonian Theatre on title, and large engraved armorial headpiece to the dedication. (16), 128, (8) pp.

First edition of a rare polyglot Aesop, the first to embrace  four languages, Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Arabic, the Greek, Hebrew and Arabic fables accompanied by their translation into Latin, by Anthony Alsop (ca. 1675-1726). Alsop was educated at Westminster and Christ Church in Oxford. He was a favourite of the Dean of Christ Church, Aldrich, and became censor of the college and tutor. Aldrich entrusted Alsop with the present publication of a selection of Aesopic fables, intended as the Dean's New Year's present to the students of Christ Church.
The book contains 237 fables in Latin verse, parallel with the  original Greek of the first 158 fables, the Hebrew of the next 10 fables, the Arabic of the next 8 fables, while the last 60  fables are in Latin only. The index to the fables is also in four languages. The book is beautifully printed in a fine small Greek and Latin type, and in slightly larger Hebrew and Arabic type. The beautifully designed and engraved frontispiece by an artist of the Oxford University shows an old bearded man sitting under a tree with a book on his lap and a globe standing near, and with birds and animals looking, while a small human-like monkey at his feet looks imploringly up at him, fingering a leaf of an open book lying upon the ground before him.
The present copy furthermore is printed on large paper, and beautifully bound in green morocco by J. Clarke for the English collector Thomas Williams, whose library was sold on April 5, 1827.

Fine large-paper copy, from the Library of Thomas Williams.- (Binding very sl. rubbed).
Not in Fabula Docet, Anne Stevenson Hobbs, etc.; Carter, Hist. of Oxford Univ. Press, 1698, 2 Wing A 729; Sale Cat. Library Thomas Willliams 22; De Ricci, English Collectors, p. 99.

Related Subjects: 17th Century  Bindings  Fable Books  Greek & Latin 

Add to Shopping cart
€ 3.250,00

Prices in EUROS (€), shipping and BTW/VAT extra.

< Back

Terms of sale

All items are offered subject to prior sale. Prices are nett and in (€) EURO. VAT/BTW, postage, and insurance are not included. 

Free shipping for orders over € 2,500.  EU customers: if applicable, please quote your VAT number when placing orders.

Preferred mode of payment: by credit card through our secure online payment service, which is facilitated by Ogone. If you wish to make other arrangements, please contact us. Terms of sale

E-mail this to a friend







This is a captcha-picture. It is used to prevent mass-access by robots. (see: www.captcha.net)

Type the characters that you see in the box (5 characters). The code can include characters 0..9 and A..F.*

  


Antiquariaat FORUM B.V.
Tuurdijk 16
3997 MS t Goy-Houten,
The Netherlands
Phone: (+31) (0)30 601 1955
Fax: (+31) (0)30 601 1813
E-mail: info@forumrarebooks.com
Web: http://www.forumrarebooks.com