Bidspirit auction | 1664 L'OCTAVIUS DE MINUCIUS FELIX,

1664 L'OCTAVIUS DE MINUCIUS FELIX, TRANSLATED BY NICOLAS D'ABLANCOURT (1606-1664), CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS - 'L'Octavius de Minucius Felix' by the aforementioned Minucius Felix (died c. 250) is one of the earliest Christian apologetic works in Latin. This 1664 edition was translated into French by the Académie Française scholar Nicolas Perrot d'Ablancourt (1606-1664). The content of the book involves a dialogue between Octavius Januarius and Caecilius Natalis while on vacation with the author Marcus Minucius Felix in Ostia, home to the port of the city of Rome. As the three friends are strolling together they pass a shrine to Serapis, which Caecilius salutes in passing. This leads to a conversation about the absurdities of polytheism and the truth of Christianity which eventually leads to the conversion of Caecilius at the behest of Octavius. On the title page there is a hand-written signature above the engraved scene of a palm tree set between two cameos, one of a lion and the other of an emperor. Handwritten notes in pencil to rear end-paper. This French edition was published in 1664 by Thomas Iolly in Paris. [12], 129, [3] pp. Please make all inquiries before bidding. All lots are sold ”as-is”, refer to our T&C. Helios Auctions does not ship in-house. A list of recommended shippers will be provided. Dimensions: 5 3/8 x 3 3/8 in., (13.7 x 8.6 cm.) Condition: Very good with no apparent loss to pages. Binding tight and secure. Some minor loss to tail of spine. Expected minor foxing consistent with age. Expected superficial wear to leather consistent with age.