First Latin edition of the Posthomerica, an epic Greek poem in 14 books, intended as a continuation of the Illiad. Written by Quintus Smyrnaeus (or Calaber), probably in the 3rd century CE, it tells the story of the Trojan War between Hector's death and the fall of Troy. It is an abridgement of various poems from the lost Epic Cycle, and the earliest surviving work on this part of the Trojan War. The Posthomerica survived in only one manuscript, which was rediscovered in Southern Italy around 1450. The work was first published in 1505 in Greek by Aldus Manutius. The present edition is the first Latin edition and the second overall. It also includes the Raptus Helenae by Coluthus, a poem on Helen's abduction, which had been translated into Latin by Helius Eobanus Hessus in 1533.
With the bookbinder's label of the Period Bookbinders in Bath mounted on the recto of the last free flyleaf. The work is lightly browned, with minor water stains in the margins of some of the leaves, red underlinings on some of the leaves. Otherwise in good condition. Adams Q-78; Nijhoff & Kronenberg 1776; STCV 12928667; USTC 403998.