1493. (INCUNABLE). LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus

Opera. De divinis institutionibus libri septem; De Ira dei; et Opificio hominis cum Epithomon eiusdem.

Venice, Vincentius Benalius, dated in the colophon March 22, 1493. 30 x 21 cm. Early 19th century vellum with old marks of the University of Leiden. 139 leaves (first blank missing). Capital spaces with guide letters. Roman type with some sprinklings of Greek. At the beginning a handwritten register of words for this Lactantius. At the end part of a written register extracted from Cassius Dio. On the first text page a stamp of Leiden University signifies that the book was sold, signed by W.N. du Rieu, Leyden Librarian 1880-1897. Marginal notes in old hands (mainly in one hand, the same as the author of the registers). Some old page numbers partly cut off, in the beginning some stains. An austerely elegant incunable, discarded in the 19th century from Leiden University, with alphabetical registers and learned manuscript notes probably from the 16th century. 135 complete copies in ISTC. Goff L-11.

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Book number: 268885

Catalogue: 15th century - Incunabula

LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus.

Divinarum institutionum libri VIII. De ira Dei liber I. De opificio Dei, Liber I. Epitome in libros suos liber acephalos, Phoenix. Carmen de mominica resurrectione. Carmen den passione Domini.

February 1521 With fine woodcut title-border by Hans Holbein the Younger, and numerous woodcut initials. 10 unn. leaves, 433 num., 3 un. pp. Small 4to. Contemp. blind-stamped calf, 1 metal clasp (of 2). (Basel, A. Cratander, February 1521). First edition. A very fine and interesting copy published by Cratander in Basel of the collected works of Lactantius, "the Cristian Cicero." In this finely printed volume appears for the first time the famous woodcut border depicting "Lucretia and Judith" by Hans Holbein the Younger. The "De Divinis Institutionibus adversus gentes", written in A.D. 304-13, is considered his greatest work, a comprehensive survey of all the arguments then available in favour of the new religion. - With some old ms. inscriptions and sm. monastery library stamp on title. - VD 16 L 28; Adams L-18. CLASSICS ; ALTE DRUCKE ; RELIGION / THEOLOGY ;

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Book number: 32999-1466

Keywords: CLASSICS ; ALTE DRUCKE ;

LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus and Giovanni Andrea BUSSI) (editor) [and others].

Opera [and additional works].Comprising:(1) LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus. De divinis institutionibus(2) LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus. De ira Dei.(3) LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus. De opificio Dei.(4) LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus. De phoenice carmina.(5) LACTANTIUS, Lucius Caecilius Firmianus. [Epitome divinarum institutionem]. Nephytomon.Additional works:(6) RAUDENSIS, Antonius. [Lactantii Firmiani errata].(7) GENUENSIS, Adam. His carminibus frater Adam Genuensis increpat fratrem Antonium. [Incipit:] Hic male corripuit stolidis Antonius aussis.(8) BUSSI, Giovanni Andrea. Ioannis Andreae episcopi Aleriensis ad Paulum secundum Venetum pontificem maximum epistola. (9) OVIDIUS, Publius Naso. Metamorphoses (extract).(10) ALIGHIERI, Dante. Comedia, inferno XXV (extract).(11) FORTUNATUS, Venantius. [De christi resurrectione]. [Incipit:] Lactantii fir. de resurrectio[n]is dominicae die/ [S]alve festa dies toto venerabilis aevo.(Colophon:) Venice, Theodorus de Ragazonibus, 1390 [=1490]. 5 works and 6 additional texts in 1 volume. Folio. The text is set in Roman type with some incidental Greek.20th-century goatskin parchment, with the author and title stamped on the spine with black foil, the name of the author added in manuscript on the bottom edge of the book block.

[1 blank], [147] ll.First Venice edition of Lactantius' most important works, edited by Giovanni Andrea Bussi (Joannis Andrea, bishop of Aleria, 1417-1475). Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius (ca. 240-ca. 320) was a rhetoric of Berber origin, who converted to Christianity and became an advisor to Emperor Constantine I and tutor to his son. He was one of the very first Christian apologetics and wrote works explaining Christianity in terms that would be palatable to educated people who still practiced the traditional religions of the Empire, while defending Christian beliefs against the criticisms of Hellenistic philosophers. For unknown reasons, Lactantius was considered somewhat heretical after his death and it was therefore forbidden to read and study his work. It was only copied and printed in the 15th century, when the early humanists took a renewed interest in him for his elegant writing style and called him "the Christian Cicero". Bussi, who was a humanist and the bishop of Aleria (on Corsica), edited Lactantius' work. Bussi's edition was first printed in Rome in 1470. This is the second edition.De divinis inistitutionibus ("The divine institutes"), written between 303 and 311, is the most important of the writings of Lactantius. It is one of the earliest Christian apologetic texts and was intended to point out the futility of pagan beliefs and establish the reasonableness and truth of Christianity. As was common in the early editions of The divine institutes, it is here combined with 4 other works by Lactantius and 6 fragments of texts from other authors.With occasional annotations in the margins. The first blank leaf is coated and shows some blind guide lines for possible text, further with a small wormhole and some staining. With a brown stain in the blank top margin of leaves a2r-v and small rust spots in the inner margin, with very minor loss of text (three letters affected). Further with a water stain in the bottom outer corner of leaves b2r-d8v and the head and foot margins of leaves t1r-t4v, barely affecting the text. Slightly foxed and browned throughout with occasional very small wormholes. Otherwise in good condition.l Goff L-10; GW M 16563; Hain-Copinger 9815; IDL 2870; ISTC il00010000; Proctor 5262.

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Book number: ABC_47854

Keywords: [KCRG291IIT91] EARLY PRINTING & MANUSCRIPTS|[KCRG291IIT91] EARLY PRINTING & MANUSCRIPTS -> [KCRG29QJ1311] 15th Century|[KCRG291IIT91] EARLY PRINTING & MANUSCRIPTS -> [KCRGA2UTFHGU] History, Law & Philosophy|[KCRG291IIT91] EARLY PRINTING & MANUSCRIPTS -> [

Lucius Caecilius Firmianus LACTANTIUS - Antonius THYSIUS (notes) :

Opera, quae extant, omnia. Cum Notiis Antonii Thysii, J.C.

Leiden, ex Officina P.Leffen, 1652, small in-8°, 15 x 10 cm, engraved frontispiece, titlepage with vignette, 12 nn pp + 670 pp + (29) pp (index) + (3)(bl). 19th-century full leather binding, decorated covers, marbled edges, ex libris L. de Ronchaud. Lactantius was called sometimes the Christian Cicero because of the beauty of his style. His main work; ''Divinarum Institutionum Libri VII'' (The divine institutions) is considered to be the first attempt at a systematic exposition of Christian theology in Latin. The author was also at one time tutor to Crispus, emperor Constantine's son. Antonius Thysius (1603 - 1665) was professor at Leiden university. .

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Book number: 3569