First Venetian edition of three distinct works historically attributed to Pliny the Younger (62-ca. 113 CE). The biggest part of the present work is comprised of Plinys celebrated letters, offering insight into Roman social, domestic, legal, and political life, which were composed between 97 and 112 CE. Books I-IX contain correspondence with friends, colleagues, and prominent figures, while Book X preserves official letters to Emperor Trajan, including queries regarding provincial administration and early Christian communities. Plinys letters are noted for their historical significance, famously including his account of the Vesuvius eruption in 79 CE and the death of his uncle, Pliny the Elder (ca. 23/24-79 CE).
Also included are the Panegyricus Traiani and De viris illustribus. The former is a rhetorical address delivered on the occasion of Plinys consulship in 100, extolling the virtues, moderation, military success, and just governance of Emperor Trajan in contrast to Domitian. A key example of imperial panegyric and an important source for understanding official Roman political ideology. The latter is a collection of biographies of illustrious, attributed to Pliny the Younger. However, the author is uncertain, Sextus Aurelius Victor (ca. 320-390 CE) is preferred by 16th-century bibliographers. It provides a literary and historical record of notable figures of the Roman world.
This edition is evidently the sole surviving impression edited by Antonius Moretus to combine these three works.
With a manuscript ownership inscription from the Jesuit Library of Oettingen in Bayern, Germany ("Residentia Societatis Iesu Oetingae") in the upper margin of the first printed leaf. The recto of the first blank leaf bears a manuscript list of 22 short book titles, (including, for example: "2. Vocabula rerum, 4. Index capitum, 5. P. Terentius, Grammatices latinae, 11. Catonis, 14. De conservata bona, 15. Pocolica Maronis"). A few early underlinings underlinings and marginal annotations are present throughout. With a small wormhole in the lower margin of the first few leaves (not affecting the text), and some occasional browning and staining throughout. Otherwise in good condition. Early European Books, fra-bnf-ars-00002907-001; Goff P 812; GW M34362; Hain 13117; Harper Cat 769; IDL 3737; ISTC ip00812000; Madsen 3320; Proctor 5129; USTC 991907; WorldCat 711964442.