1578 – Works of Flavius Josephus | Huge German Folio | Illustrated Woodcuts

Flavius Josephus’s most important and famous work was his historical account of the Jewish people, Antiquities of the Jews. This work is one of the most referenced works regarding the history and origins of the Jewish faith, providing history beyond what is found in the Bible.

This enormous 16^th-century folio features a German translation of Josephus from Conrad Lautenbach. It is notable, not only for its size, but also for the woodcut illustrations throughout. Worth noting, the engraving of the Tower of Babel is quite desirable in this edition.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Flauij Josephi des Hochberühmten Jüdischen Geschichtschreibers Historien vnd Bücher : Von alten Jüdischen Geschichten zwentzig sam[m]t eynem von seinem Leben
• Author(s): Flavius Josephus
• Contributor(s): Conrad Lautenbach (Editor, translator)
• Publisher: Durch Theodosium Rihel, Strassburg
• Edition: First German edition, 1578
  • Title page undated, dating confirmed through pagination and OCLC
• Binding: Vellum
• Format: Folio, single volume
• Size:  13.5 in x 9.5 in (34.3 cm x 24.1 cm)
• Collation: [12], 946, [40]; 214, [6]
• Illustrations: Woodcut illustrations throughout
• Contents Include:
  • Antiquities of the Jews
  • Preface with biography of Josephus
  • works by Egesippus

Condition:

Fair condition. The vellum binding shows edge wear and losses at corners with exposed boards. Leather straps are present. The text block remains intact. The woodcuts and text are well-defined with visible signs of age but remain legible.

Why Collect This?

• Rare German edition of Josephus’s Antiquities
• Includes additional bound-in Christian historical text

Item Number: # 29887