168 - [Turkey]. PHILOSTRATUS. VIGENERE, Blaise de.

[Turkey]. PHILOSTRATUS. VIGENERE, Blaise de. On the Life of Apollonius of Tyana. By B. de Vigenere, of the House of Bourbon. Paris: Abel l’Angellier, 1599. In-4, (5) ff., 299-(1) pp. Soft ivory vellum with period flaps, plain spine (rust-colored spots on the covers, inner joints partially unstitched, some slight marginal foxing, a small wormhole on the upper cover up to p. 33 with no loss, traces of vellum laces). The first modern translation of Philostratus’s *Life of Apollonius of Tyana*, transcribed from Greek into French by the French diplomat, cryptographer, and learned alchemist Blaise de Vigenère (1523–1596). A first-century Neopythagorean philosopher, Apollonius is portrayed as a wise miracle-worker whose travels in the East and alleged wonders fueled the Western imagination. Composed at the request of Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus, this work remains the only complete and extant “biography” of this enigmatic figure from antiquity. A fine copy in its original binding, illustrated with a black etching portrait of Apollonius on the title page; headpieces and initials featuring figures and foliage, wood-engraved in black. Not listed in Caillet or Guaita (who mention only the reprint). Provenance: an old 17th-century bookplate on the title page, possibly [Briet]. A 19th-century ink stamp from a religious institution on the reverse of the title page.