Bidspirit auction | 1581 TACITUS THE ANNALS VELLUM

1581 TACITUS THE ANNALS VELLUM BOUND ANTIQUE TACITE ANNALES IN LATIN 16TH CENT. - Publius Cornelius Tacitus Les annales. [Books I-V & XI-XVI]. 2 parts in one volume. Paris: Abel I'Angelier, 1581. 4to. (7 1/2 by 9 3/4”) Title, [1], 191, [8], 162, [18] leaves. Original limp vellum with manuscript title to spine. Manuscript annotations to paste downs and end papers. Title within woodcut border, woodcut head-pieces and initials, leaf with printer's device at end. First part with some paper loss to outer margin, without text loss, some marginal damp staining and some worm holes to outer margins. First edition of Tacite published by Abel L'Angelier; including the books I-V, XI-XV and XVI of the Annals, translated by Estienne de La Planche, whose edition was published in 1548 by Sertenas, which here is completed and reviewed by Claude Fauchet. Publius Cornelius Tacitus (c.?AD 56 – c.?120) was a Roman historian and politician. Tacitus is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historians by modern scholars. He lived in what has been called the Silver Age of Latin literature, and has a reputation for the brevity and compactness of his Latin prose, as well as for his penetrating insights into the psychology of power politics. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals (Latin: Annales) and the Histories (Latin: Historiae)—examine the reigns of the emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero, and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors (69 AD). These two works span the history of the Roman Empire from the death of Augustus, in 14 AD, to 70 AD in the First Jewish–Roman War of 66–73. Please make all inquiries before bidding. All lots are sold ”as-is”, refer to our T&C. Helios Auctions will ship all lots domestically for $25.00 per lot. Combined and international shipping are available. The rates will be provided upon request.