POLYBE MEGALOPOLITEIN. Les Cinq premiers livres des histoires... Autrefois traduits & mis en lumière par Louïs Maigret... In-folio, gilt vellum with overlays very nicely decorated with roulette and fillets in frames, spandrels and large central finial, religious congregation iron added in the upper part, spine with 5 nerves, gilt edges, traces of cords ( Contemporary binding.) Adams, P-1810 // Brunet, IV-791 // Cartier, II-415. (6f.)-1f. folded-335-(8f.) / A6, [ ]1, a-z6, A-E6, F-G4 / 215 x 333 mm. Third edition of the translation by Louis Maigret, more complete than previous editions, of the Histoire de Polybe. A Greek historian of the second century B.C., Polybius wrote a general history, of which only the first five complete books and fragments of a few others have survived. The first five books cover events from 220 to 141 B.C., but are preceded by a table of earlier events, in which the author deals with events in the Roman republic and contemporary states. This is the first general history ever written. Louis Maigret published a translation of the first five books in 1542 in Paris with Denis Janot, followed by another with fragments of books I, VI, VII, VIII and XVI in 1552, again in Paris but published by Groulleau. The present translation also contains fragments of Books IX to XV and XVII. A handsome engraved title in architectural style with scrolled motifs, animals, figures... A fold-out plate for the drawing of the Romans' camp and handsome lettering with sifted background and foliate motifs. A fine ruled copy bearing on the boards a gilt iron of the Minimes de la Place Royale in Paris with the word Charitas and in exergue the words Conventus Parisiensis Minimorum. In the second half of the 18th century, the Minimes had built up a library in their convent on Place Royale in Paris, numbering over 15,000 volumes, which were dispersed during the French Revolution. Part of this collection was added to the Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal. Vellum a little stained. Inner hinge partly cracked. Provenance: Couvent des Minimes de Paris (iron on covers and handwritten note on title).