First edition of the works of the 4th century Latin poet of Bordeaux, Ausonius, to be edited by classical scholar, and tutor of Joseph Scaliger, Élie Vinet (1509-1587).
The present edition is beautifully illustrated, with two fine folding plates of Le Palais Tutele and L’Amphitheatre of Bordeaux, here in excellent condition on uncut leaves, a full-page map of the city and a full page woodcut of the Augustus Altar. The learned humanist Vinet, principal of the College de Guyenne (founded in Bordeaux in 1533) persuaded a former teacher at the college, Simon Millanges, in 1572 to establish a printing house. The young Millanges as well as publishing more traditional works such as Ausonius was keen to find original material and it was he who first published Montaigne.
Provenance: Nineteenth-century armorial bookplate of Charles William Hamilton Sotheby (1820-1887) with his name and motto ‘Ou Bien, Ou Rien’ on front pastedown. In 1881 he inherited Ecton Hall, Northamptonshire; this volume not listed in catalogue for Col. H. G. Sotheby’s sale of the library there (Sotheby’s, 24 July, 1924).
Minor browning and spotting in places, otherwise a clean copy in good condition.
Adams A2282. BMSTC (French), p. 36. Not in Mortimer.
