TÊS HÊRÔIKÊS POIÊSEÔS PRÔTEUONTES POIÊTAI. POETÆ GRÆCI PRINCIPES HEROICI CARMINIS ET ALII NONNULLI

[Geneva]: Excudebat Henricus Stephanus, 1566. Hardcover. Folio [bibliographic octavo], 20, LXXII, 781, [3], P. LVII, 489 pages. In Very Good minus condition. Bound in later full brown calf with black leather label bearing gilt titling to spine. Rebound and subsequently rebacked, with light plus rubbing, bumping, and wear to edges and corners of boards and light rubbing and scratching to surfaces of boards. Leather of label cracking. Text block lightly age toned with light to light plus scattered foxing and a few scattered stains. Text block with light waving. Second front free endpaper with several pencil annotations and the library stamp of St Etheldreda's in London. Text in Greek and Latin. USTC: 450544. [Oversized book. Additional postage necessary for expedited/international orders. Economy International shipping unavailable due to size/weight restrictions. For international/expedited customers, please inquire for rates.] BW Consignment. Shelved in Room A Oversized. The Estienne press was established in 1502 by the first Henri Estienne (c. 1460-1520), twenty years after his father disinherited him for his committed interest in the art of printing. The firm was eventually passed down to Henri's grandson, also called Henri (c. 1528-1598), who printed this text. The life of the younger Henri Estienne is a testament to the international nature of printing and the book trade in the 16th century. He was born in Paris, where he studied Latin, Hebrew, and Greek, and later travelled throughout Italy, England, and Flanders on behalf of the Estienne press, then run by his father. When he was 29 or 32, his father relocated the press from Paris to Geneva to avoid religious persecution. Henri joined the family in Geneva, but subsequently returned to Italy to work at the Aldine press in Venice. On his father's death, Henri took over the management of the family press in Geneva.




The Estienne press was particularly noted for its Greek editions and its fine Greek typeface; the Henri who printed this text issued a Greek lexicon and an edition of Plato's works that continued to be used by scholars for centuries after their publication. 1394198. Special Collections.