Eusebius, Historia ecclesiastica, Mantua, 1479, later calf, arms of Pius VI

Eusebius Caesariensis

Historia ecclesiastica [translated by Rufinus Aquileiensis].

Mantua: Johannes Schallus, [not before 15] July 1479

Chancery folio (293 x 195mm.), 171 leaves (of 172, without final blank), [a-s⁸ t-y^6.8], roman type, 34 lines, 4- to 6-line initial spaces with printed guides, later cat's paw calf gilt with the arms of Pius VI, spine gilt in compartments, blue edges, first quire slightly wormed with a few paper repairs, small wormhole at end with slight loss of text, slightly stained at end, binding rubbed with a few small defects and repairs

Fourth edition, dedicated by Schallus to Federigo Gonzaga, duke of Mantua. The History of the Church written by Eusebius is one of the most important sources for the history of Christianity. The work, which in its last recension in the author's lifetime was extended to ten books, was translated into Latin in the fourth century by Rufinus of Aquileia, a friend of St Jerome and a considerable translator from the Greek.

LITERATURE

ISTC ie00127000

PROVENANCE

Pope Pius VI (1717-1799), arms on binding; presented by Samuel Putnam Avery (1822-1904) to the Grolier Club, bookplate, sold by them, 15 November 1968, to Goodspeed's