Author: Lucretius Carus, Titus:
Title: De Rerum Natura Libri Sex.
Description: Birminghamae [Birmingham]: Johannis Baskerville, 1772. First Baskerville edition. 4to., pp. [ii], 280. First and last leaves (and endpapers) toned at edges, occasional very faint foxing. Contemporary tree calf, spine gilt, red morocco label, edges pale yellow, marbled endpapers. A little loss to endcaps, upper joint split but cords firm, rear joint just starting, corners frayed with a little loss of leather to bottom corner of upper board, still very good overall. Strangely-deteriorated (has become dark reddish-brown) bookplate of William Downes to front paste-down. William Downes, 1st Baron Downes PC (1751-1826) was one of the most prominent Irish judges of his time. He was Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1803 to 1822. The first Baskerville edition of Lucretius (a duodecimo followed the next year). In a somewhat backhanded fashion, Dibdin comments that this edition is remarkable for its typographical beauty though nothing else. ESTC T50365; Dibdin II (4th edn.), 203; Gaskell 43; Gordon 20; Schweiger II, 577

Keywords: Early Printing (to c.1800, all subjects);Classics & Antiquity


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