Author: Appian: (Davies, John, trans.:)

Title: The History of Appian of Alexandria, in two parts. The first consisting of the Punick, Syrian, Parthian, Mithridatick, Illyrian, Spanish, and Hannibalick Wars. The Second containing five books of the Civil Wars of Rome... The third edition.

Publication: London: Printed for John Amery at the Peacock, [...], 1679

Description: Folio, 2 parts in 1, pp. [xiv], 251, [i], 273, [ii]. Title in red and black, woodcut initials and ornaments. First and last four leaves a bit browned and dampstained at margins, title frayed at fore-edge, light age browning throughout, occasional slight marginal foxing, 2B2-3 soiled, long clean tear from fore-edge of 4h2 extending along blank margin. Contemporary full calf, single blind ruled, rebacked with original spine onlaid, scattered loss to covers from binding acid. Modern bookplate of Fox Pointe Collection to front pastedown.

The first edition of the second English translation of Appian of Alexandria's important 'Historia Romana'. Written in the 2nd century AD, it spans the origins of Rome to the end of the Republic, with a detailed account of the Civil Wars, which here constitutes the second part. This translation, originally attributed to John Dryden, was produced by John Davies (1627-93) of Kidwelly. After studying at Oxford and Cambridge, and spending some time in France, he was employed by London booksellers as a translator from Latin and French. This copy was in the Fox Pointe Manor Library, a rich collection of 17th-century English imprints gathered by Dr Howard Knohl.

Bibliography: ESTC R13368; Hoffmann I, 280.

Reference Number: [53761]

Price: £1000

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