Les Oeuvres Morales et Meslees de Plutarque [with] Les Vies des Hommes Illustres Grecs et Romains

Paris & Lausanne: Michel de Vascosan & François le Preux, 1575. Third Edition. Hardcover (Full Leather). Very Good Condition. Early French editions of Plutarch's Morals and Lives published in 1575 and 1574-5 respectively (originally published in 1572 and 1559). Uniformly bound in early (17th/18th century) acid calf, modest wear, surface scrapes, one corner bumped and soft, a few minor worm holes, tears, but intact and sound overall. Small dampstain to bottom of first first pages of morales, occasional minor stains, foxing, but generally very fresh. Endpapers worn, front joint cracked on morales and endpapers a little loose, bindings likely tightened, old manuscript notes to titles and final leaf on morales and early minor notes scattered in Lives. Minor dampstaining scattered and at the top edge towards the end of lives. (6), 668 ll, privilege, index. (16), 1336, index, final colophon leaf with printer's mark present. Graesse 5 367 (Lives), Adams 1625, 1643 (the 1574 ed.). With historiated initials throughout Morales and 50 small portraits within type borders in Lives; a fine early pair of the classic French Plutarch by the accomplished scholar and prose stylist Amyot - famously, Montaigne was a great admirer of his prose and called his Plutarch "nostre bréviaire". Size: Folio. 2-volume set (complete). Previous owner's name ink-stamped. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Over 3 kilos. Category: Philosophy; Antiquarian & Rare. Inventory No: 045243.