PANEGYRICI VETERES.

Quandoquidem nobis animus est, antiquis autoribus excudensis... S.l.n.d. (at colophon) : Basel, Johannes Froben, December 1520. In-4, brown calf, ornamented spine, red title page, red edges (18th century binding). A collection known as Panegyrici veteres, first published in Milan around 1482 and grouping together various ceremonial speeches delivered by Latin and Gallic writers and rhetors before their respective emperors: there is the panegyric of Trajan by Pliny the Younger, that of Theodosius I by Pacatus, that of Maximian Augustus by the high Roman dignitary Claudius Mamertinus, of Constantine by Nazarius, etc. This edition, given by the humanist Beatus Rhenanus, is notably augmented by the panegyric composed by Erasmus to celebrate the return of the sovereign Philip the Handsome to Brussels in 1504 (Bibliotheca Erasmiana, I, p. 137). Printed in Roman script, it is decorated with 3 beautiful woodcuts by Holbein, one of which frames the title, some bands and a nice set of initials. Modern bookplate of Doctor Créhange. Small wetness at the head of the first 6 leaves, including the title, and wide wetness reaching the last 8 quires. Covers redone.