Saturnalium Sermonum Libri Duo, Qui de Gladiatoribus. Nouiter correcti, aucti, & Formis aeneis ilustrati.

Hardcover. Good. Apud Christophorum Plantinum, Antwerp, 1585; small quarto, 153 x 212mm; * to Z3, pp [viii], 1-175, [vi, being the Index Rervm et Verborvm]; 12 full page engraved plates numbered consecutively with the text pages and marked in the plate with identifying letters A through to M; three large folding engraved plates tipped in on stubs (ordinarily four), all unsigned. Near contemporary vellum binding, now rather stained and irregular in the surface; some old and fairly light water staining of the edges and internally cracked at one point though the binding is still very firm and the pages generally crisp and clean; overall in good condition and with good impressions of the engraved plates. ... ... ... ... ... This work is the first of Lipsius's antiquarian treatises (De Amphitheatro following) and was initially published in 1582 without plates, subsequent editions appearing during his lifetime in 1585, 1588, 1598 and 1604. The 1598 edition is the last to be revised by Lipsius himself but was also issued without illustrations whereas the 1604 edition carried new illustrations chosen in conjunction with Lipsius's input. As the title indicates, the work is an examination of the gladitorial activities in the context of Sturnalia celebrations, to some limited extent filtered through the neostoic philosophy of the author. ... ... ... ... To date I've been unable to establish the identity of the engraver or, if different, of the originator of the images of the plates. It's possible that this could be Pierre Van Der Borcht or Otto van Veen although that's not certain. ... ... ... ... Good and desirable copy of the first illustrated edition of the work.