Lot 08234

LABBE Philippe, “CORPUS BYZANTINAE HISTORIAE. De Byzantinae historiae scriptoribus… / Εκλογαί περί Πρεσβειών Excerpta de legationibus, ex Dexippo Atheniense. Eunapio Sardiano. Petro Patr.et magist. Prisco Sophista. Malcho Philadelph. Menandro Protect. Theophylacto Simocatta…  / Eclogae Historicorum de rebus byzantinis, quorum integra scripta…”, Typographia Regia, Paris, 1648.

Folio, pp. half title, title page, [1], 6-58, [2], half title, title page, [10], 220, [16], half title, [1], 119.

The FIRST Volume of “Corpus Byzantinae Historiae”, the monumental work about the history of the Byzantine Empire. The whole project was directed by the Jesuit scholar Philippe Labbe under the auspices of Louis XIV and ended up in twenty-four volumes printed between 1648 and 1711, gathering unique sources interpreted by prominent humanists of this time. Catalogue of the early sources and a preface to the overall project, followed by two books.

INCLUDING: Περί Πρέσβεων Εθνών προς Ρωμαίους, Εκ της ιστορίας Πρίσκου Ρήτορος και Σοφιστού, Περί Μάλχου Ρήτορος του Φιλαδελφέως, Πρεσβεία Ιουστίνου προς Πέρσας, Εκ της ιστορίας Θεοφυλάκτου από Επάρχου και αντιγραφέως, περί πρέσβεων Ρωμαίων προς Εθνικούς, Εκλογαί των Ολυμπιοδώρου ιστορίας λόγων ΚΒ’, Εκλογαί των Κανδίδου Ισαύρου ιστορίας λόγων Γ’, Εκλογαί των Θεοφάνους Βαζαντιου Ιστορίας Λόγ. Ι’, Εκλογαί του Σουϊδα, notes to Hesychius of Miletus by Johannes Meursius; further notes to the other sources by Philippe Labbe;

Cardinal blind-stamped emblem in gilt on both covers. Ex libris label on pastedown. Contemporary full leather, spine with raised bands and decorations & title in gilt. External rubbing and light wear along edges. Interior in Very Fine condition.

Text in Greek & Latin in parallel columns. Notes and indexes in Latin. Numerous woodcut head-pieces and chapter ornaments.

RARE.