FLAVIUS JOSEPHE.

FLAVIUS JOSEPH. Antiquitatum judaicorum libri XX. Basel, Froben, 1540. folio, sow skin blindstamped on ais, boards decorated with multiple fillets and scrolls, brass clasps, spine with large nerves, painted edges (Binding of the period). Basel edition of Erasmus' translation of the Antiquities of Judaism by Flavius Josephus. Printed in Roman characters. PRECIOUS VOLUME FROM THE FAMOUS PILLONE LIBRARY, WITH A DECORATION BY CESARE VECELLIO PAINTED ON THE THREE EDGES: THE LATTER, OF ASTONISHING SIZE, DEPICTS THE SIEGE AND BURNING OF JERUSALEM IN THE YEAR 70 BY TITUS, AN EVENT WHICH THE HISTORIAN FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS WITNESSED AND RECOUNTS IN HIS WORK. On the Pillone library, see lot 44. It bears the bookplate of the library of Sir Thomas Brooke (II, 1891, n°94) and was listed in the catalogue Un groupe de livres Pillone of the Pierre Berès bookshop, under n°24. The volume has suffered from humidity: the top of the binding is stained, significant wetness at the top of the quires with small traces of mould, the first 12 leaves repaired (with loss of text). Small paper loss without damage to the text in the lateral margin of 2 leaves (pp. 637-640). Missing the top cover.