4 - History

History Agathias Scholastikos De bello Gotthoru(m), & alijs peregrinis historijs temporum suoru(m), translated from Greek into Latin by Christophoru(m) Persona Romanum. With a wide woodcut title border (dated 1518) surrounding the red-and-black title block, as well as 5 large initials decorated with scrollwork. Augsburg, Grimm and Wirsung, Sept. 20, 1519. 82 unnumbered leaves. (Call. A-V4, 2 unsigned folios) 4°. 17th-century half-leather binding with handwritten title, marbled edges and red edges on the reverse (cover with missing sections, somewhat scuffed, bumped, and stained). Second printed edition ever of Agathias’s late antique “Histories.” - VD 16 A 612 - Adams A 325 - Panzer VI, 156, 165 - Zapf 76. - The first printed edition of this Latin translation of the work—originally written in Greek by the Eastern Roman historian Agathias Scholastikos (c. 531–582)—was published in Rome in 1516. - The ornate title border is illustrated in Pflugk-Harttung, plate 14, and—with the title shown here—in Johnson, plate 23. - The endpapers and title page are heavily stained; some leaves have water stains along the margins and are occasionally slightly stained by fingerprints. Overall, a well-preserved, collectible copy. History. - Second printed edition of Agathias’s late antique “Histories.” - For references, see above. - The first printed edition, in the Latin translation presented here, of the work originally written in Ancient Greek by the Eastern Roman historian Agathias Scholastikos (c. 531–582) was published in Rome in 1516. - The ornate woodcut title frame is reproduced in Pflugk-Harttung, plate 14, and, along with the present title page, in Johnson, plate 23. - Paste-downs and endpapers show heavier staining; some leaves are water-stained, and some leaves occasionally show slight finger stains. Overall, a well-preserved, collectible copy.