1532 – Works of Virgil – Robert Estienne | Famous Printing & Servius Commentary

A rare, 16th-century printing of the works of Virgil. This 1618 edition includes Virgil’s most famous works – Bucolics or Eclogues, the Georgics and the Aeneid. The Aeneid is one of Virgil’s most important and well-known works; an epic poem that tells the story of Aeneas, a Greco-Roman myth, and his travels. This work is considered one of the most important and best works of literature ever to be written. (Damen).

This 1532 edition is notable for a few reasons – it features the commentary of Maurus Honoratus Servius, and a ‘life of Virgil’ at the front; but perhaps most notably, it was published by the famous Robert Estienne (or Stephani), one of the premier 16^th-century publishers. Few publishers command such a demand as Estienne.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: [P. Virgilii Maronis opera]. Castigationes & varietates Virgilianae lectionis
• Author(s): Publius Vergilius Maro (Virgil)
• Contributor(s): Maurus Servius Honoratus (Commentary)
• Publisher: Parisiis, ex officina Roberti Stephani
• Edition: 1532 printing.
  • Note on dating: date comes from the colophon at the end of Aeneid; The 1529 on the title page was reused from a previous edition
• Binding: Leather
• Format: Folio (single volume)
• Size:  12.5 in x 8.25 in (32 cm x 21 cm)
• Collation: [6], 707 (i.e. 709), [61], 205 (i.e. 199), [24]
• Illustrations: Engraved title page
• Contents Include:
  • Eclogues (Bucolics), Georgics Aeneid
  • Life of Virgil
  • Extensive index
  • Commentary by Maurus Servius Honoratus
• Provenance: handwritten – S. Pinchon
• Reference(s): USTC 181166

Condition:

Very Good. Professionally restored binding with modern leather hinges retaining the original boards. Binding secure. Pages generally clean with expected age toning to preliminary leaves typical for sixteenth century paper.

Why Collect This?

• Sixteenth century Virgil printing from the Paris press of Robert Estienne
• Includes commentary of the Roman scholar Servius
• Strong interest for collectors of Renaissance classical literature

Item Number: #50147